London based artist Eliza Downes is known for creating immersive, story led murals that transform interiors through bold colour, vivid pattern and expressive scale. With a background in acting and drama, her work is rooted in narrative, bringing a theatrical sensibility to every space she paints.
We recently worked with Eliza on a bespoke ceiling mural for the newly refurbished Dora Carrington Room at Charlotte Street Hotel. Inspired by the Bloomsbury Group and responding to the Pierre Frey walling fabric that lines the room, Eliza’s ceiling design introduces a richly layered artistic flourish, with a painted story unfolding overhead. This week on the blog, we chat to Eliza to find out more about her work and creative process.
1. Your background is in acting and drama. How does that theatrical training influence the way you approach murals and spatial storytelling today?
I am very conscious of the audience. I want to capture attention and tell a story that pulls you in and makes you feel something. It is also important to work in ensemble with the room. The mural has to work in harmony with the other fabrics and details rather than shout over them.
2. You recently completed the ceiling mural in the Dora Carrington Room at Charlotte Street Hotel. Can you talk us through the different phases of the final design?
It began with spending time in the hotel and absorbing the Bloomsbury Group stories woven through the interiors. I was particularly inspired by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, and especially by Alexander Hollweg’s mural in the Oscar Bar, which I loved. From there, I experimented with Bloomsbury inspired motifs, sketching and rubbing out countless ideas before pulling everything together into three final designs. I focused on ensuring the shapes flowed and felt balanced. Colour is my favourite part of the process and it develops alongside the fabrics and finishes in the room so nothing feels too loud. Once on site with the chosen design, my team and I spent a week painting through the summer and eating a lot of their delicious macaroons.
3. Narrative is central to your work. Where do your stories begin, with a place, a client, a colour or a character?
Almost always with the place. The history of the building and how the space is intended to be used shape everything that follows. I also like to get a sense of the atmosphere of the building before putting ideas down.
4. You are known for your bold use of colour and scale. How do you balance immediate visual impact with creating work that feels layered and lasting?
I love bold colours, but pairing them with calmer tones stops the work from becoming overwhelming. For this mural, I was keen to use purple, as it is rare that I can use so many colours in one piece. At the moment, I am really drawn to a painterly feel. Building colour in thin, watered down layers gives the work softness and depth.
5. When collaborating with interior designers or private clients, how do you ensure the final piece feels both deeply personal and distinctly you?
Every project starts with a brief, but the personality comes from the research I do within it and the motifs, stories, colours and shapes I am instinctively drawn to. That is where the work becomes personal to me. From there, I love that people can interpret the mural in their own way and bring their own meaning to it. We do not all need to see the same thing.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s blog and getting to know Eliza and her work.