Charles Voysey was an architect, textile and furniture designer, born in Yorkshire in 1857. Regarded as one of the finest architects of the Arts and Crafts movement, he was also an accomplished furniture designer, creating purposefully simple, restrained and elegant pieces.

His interest in interiors lead to success as a designer of wallpaper, fabrics, tiles, ceramics and metalwork. Voysey’s textile work shows the influence of William Morris, with similar principles regarding repeating patterns, and the use of botanical and animal imagery.

His dense yet simple representations of the organic went on to influence the Modernist movement, who were inspired by his eye for purity of line, and an open and unfussy style. 

See Voysey's work in the V&A collection here.