June 09, 2025
How we created our Delft Habour Collection
The new Delft Harbour Collection might be our most Cornish collection yet. Depicting some of the most beloved villages and fishing coves around Cornwall, this set of tiles are perfect miniature representations of places we truly love.
We spoke to our artist and the collection's designer, Jon Watkins, about what inspired him to create the set, and our very talented miniaturist Tiffany Storey about how she took Jon's sketches and watercolours and turned them into tiles.
THE INSPIRATION
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO CREATE THIS RANGE?
Jon: I've always loved the harbours in Cornwall, as they are all so individual.
Living in Newquay, I understand that the harbour is the heart of a seaside town. I love the history behind them and the different architecture.
This collection we thought would be a popular set of images to have on a bathroom or a kitchen.
A little window into Cornish life to stare at whilst stirring the gravy.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE THE LOCATIONS?
Jon: As a group, we made a list of harbours on the north and south coasts, then whittled it down to six that we thought had the qualities we wanted to depict.
We chose mostly the popular tourist towns and then a couple of small, quaint harbours.
THE CRAFTSMANSHIP
WHAT WERE THE MAIN CHALLENGES TO RECREATING THE IMAGES YOU'D SKETCHED, ONTO A TILE?
Jon: The main issues to overcome were choosing the right angle and composition so that it was recognisable, but unique to the other images. Also resizing the image from sketches.
There is a lot of detail that needs to be simplified so that it works on a hand painted tile design.
Tiffany: Honestly, it was a little daunting! Jon's designs were lovely so I was mindful to keep as much of his style in the final pieces as possible. Painting onto a smooth tile is very different to painting on paper, and you have to bear in mind we need to be able to replicate the tile multiple times, so the first thing I did was look at how to simplify the designs whilst ensuring the places were still recognisable and characterful.
I worked from Jon's sketches and watercolours, as well as real photos of the harbours to pull together all the important parts that hopefully show how special each place is.
I say simple, they aren’t simple at all, but then I love a detailed tile and I think the small details in these tiles are what make them so charming, like the little guy in Mullion Cove, walking off to the sea with his fishing rod, or the people sat on the harbour wall at Padstow. I wanted to create paintings of somewhere you could imagine yourself being, relaxing in a beautiful Cornish harbour.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS?
Jon: I initially sketched images using reference photographs. I made a circular aperture as a size guide, so that each harbour design had the same configuration. I then inked in a bolder outline to help define the detail. I then traced that image and painted in a blue wash and outline using gouache. The two images, one a black outline and the other the blue painted image would help the tile artist recreate the scene accurately onto the tile.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT REALLY TOOK TIME TO GET RIGHT?
Tiffany: The main challenge was finding the balance of using Jon’s ideas, adding in new ones, including his style but also my own, and then keeping them continuous across the whole collection. Plus the added challenge of painting everything in blue! The sea, the sky, the hills, the houses, it was tricky at times, but I enjoyed finding different textures for all of them.
ARE THERE ANY LITTLE MOTIFS YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOYED WORKING OUT HOW TO PAINT?
TIffany: I loved how Jon had chosen to paint the sea in his watercolours. Its very different to our other collections and took some figuring out how to recreate on a tile because ceramic paints behave so differently to watercolours. But I think it was well worth the effort, its one of my favourite elements of the collection.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE?
Jon: Its hard to pick a favourite, but if I were to choose, it would be the Port Isaac scene.
Tiffany: I can’t choose a favourite! I love them all. I look at them and think how peaceful the places are and that I'd like to be there right now.
WORKING AS AN ARTIST IN CORNWALL
HOW DOES CORNWALL INSPIRE YOUR CREATIVE WORK GENERALLY?
Jon: The Cornish land is always changing, where it be in the light, the weather or the landscape. You can't help but be inspired by the sheer stunning beauty of the coastline and inland to the moors and the meandering rivers and woodland that dot the countryside.
There is a wealth of inspiration, just ripe for new tile collections!
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY AT THE STUDIO LOOK LIKE?
Jon: The tile orders that have come in depict the day for me really. I mainly paint corners as they provide the bulk of the tile production along with the geometrics.
They help to fill the kilns. The experienced painters are busy designing the bespoke orders and the decals. It's a disciplined studio when it needs to be. But overall a very vibrant and enthusiastic environment to paint in.
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN ARTIST?
Jon: Since graduating from a fine art degree in Wolverhampton back in 1998 I have aimed to pursue the creative arts as much as I can. Although I did find myself working in construction and carpentry for a number of years, which I also enjoyed.
But I am very glad to be back painting for a living. Outside of work I always have a number of projects on the go. My brain naturally thinks in pictures and I am always thinking of the next subject to paint.
Tiffany: I don’t remember wanting to be an artist as such, but I think I’ve always been one. Well, actually, when I was little I wanted to be a florist. My parents had an antiques shop and next door was a florist who would let me play at making up my own arrangements. I can remember really clearly the wonderful smell of the room, the buckets and buckets of flowers, all that colour and I thought it was beautiful. But I don’t think I ever imagined making a living as an artist, I'm very fortunate to be able to do that. I’ve always had art in my life in some capacity, I’d turn to it for fun and for comfort, so I think that makes me an artist, regardless of my job title.
The Delft Harbour Collection is available now on the website.
