Tabby Booth: Stories in Silhouette
There’s a quiet magic in Tabby Booth’s work — bold silhouettes that hold both stillness and story. Based in Falmouth, Cornwall, Tabby is an artist, illustrator and curator whose work explores character and contrast. Having co-founded Cygnets Art School and later Sailors Jail Gallery, her creative path has taken her from teaching children’s art classes to curating exhibitions in a converted 17th-century jail. We caught up with her to talk about creative rediscovery, painting flowers, and how interiors shape the way she sees the world.
Freddies Flower’s: You started out studying Illustration at Central Saint Martins, then co-founded Cygnets Art School and, more recently, Sailors Jail Gallery in Falmouth with your husband, James Heslip. Can you talk us through your journey? What was the turning point when you decided to found both the school and gallery and then step back from the school to focus on your own work?
Tabby Booth: It’s been a wild ride! After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2012, I quickly realised I wasn’t keen on being a freelance illustrator. My now-husband Hessy and I were living on a boat in Kingston and working at a children’s art school in London. We decided to start our own classes where we lived, thinking it would give us a reliable income, and time to create our own work. That small idea grew fast. Cygnets teaches traditional art skills to children, which is unusual, and it was very successful. When our Kingston branch filled up, we expanded into Richmond, and eventually franchised so others could open schools across the country.
In 2020 we moved to Cornwall and opened Cygnets branches there. In 2023, we found a building for classes - the old Falmouth town jail from 1666 - and instantly knew it would make a fantastic gallery too. We wanted to show local, alternative artists who weren’t being represented. Sailors Jail grew quickly, and by the end of 2024 it was thriving. Managing both it and Cygnets with two small children was tough, so in 2024 we handed over the running of Cygnets, to focus on our art and the gallery full time.
FF: Can you talk us through your creative process? You’re known for your signature silhouette and we’d love to hear about how you developed your distinctive style.
TB: When we opened Sailors Jail, knew I had to start creating again. I felt I needed to choose between art and illustration. I had always leaned toward illustration, but was drawn to painting: the tactility of it, the physical texture of something you can hang on a wall. That’s what I decided to focus on.
Looking back through my work, even as a child I had always drawn animals, often in black and white. The silhouette had always been there, and I realised it was the element that most excited me in other artists’ work too. So I decided to focus on that. It’s so hard to create something completely new these days, but I wanted the combination of style, subject, and medium to feel as uniquely mine as possible.
For a while, I had ruled out illustration completely. Then I came across a drawing challenge on Instagram called Peachtober run by Furry Little Peach. On a whim, I bought an iPad and joined in. That small decision changed everything. The response online was amazing, and I realised Ididn’t have to choose - I could paint one-off artworks while also creating digital illustrations. That variety has been a real gamechanger for my practice.
“We wanted to show local, alternative artists who weren’t being represented. Sailors Jail grew quickly, and by the end of 2024 it was thriving.”
FF: What’s been your proudest moment to date, artistically?
TB: Without question, my interview in The World of Interiors. I’ve loved that magazine since I was a kid, so it was a genuine bucket-list moment. When the piece came out, there was a huge photograph of my studio, filled with my paintings, right at the top of the website’s front page. It was one of those pinch-me moments I’ll never forget.
FF: Nature features a lot in your work, could you tell us more about its prominence in your work and any links to flowers if relevant?
TB: When I started painting again, I focused almost entirely on animals. I love them as subjects because they carry so much character and often suggest stories, even in very simple forms. They can remind people of folk tales or of a beloved pet without me trying to force that narrative.
Recently, I’ve been expanding into more figurative work and still life - vessels, plants, and flowers. I love playing with the silhouette of flowers in particular, because they’re usually seen as light and delicate, yet I represent them in solid, dark shapes. Even then, I almost always include an animal or figure somewhere in the piece, even if it’s just a beetle on a vase or birds scratched into the surface. I can’t live without that character!
FF: How do you feel about flowers and do any particular stems stand out to you more than others?
TB: I love flowers, and funnily enough chrysanthemums (which you kindly sent me for the shoot!) are my absolute favourite. Flowers feel like one of those small luxuries you grow to appreciate more as an adult - something simple that can completely brighten your day.
FF: You have a passion for interiors, and each piece of your art is designed with this in mind. Could you explain a little more about this process?
TB: Interiors are definitely my other love. I’ve always been fascinated by how colour, texture, and pattern come together to create atmosphere. For me, good rugs and good art are non-negotiables.
With my paintings, I want to create objects that look as though they’ve been unearthed from the ground - pieces that bring depth, history, and character into a space. I source vintage and antique frames, then create artworks to fit them, rather than the other way round. I love that they’re ready to hang and instantly transform a room.
I’m also a big believer in contrast. I love the idea of pairing what looks like an antique painting with a modern, illustrative print. When you mix things that might not traditionally go together, the result feels so much more interesting.
“I love playing with the silhouette of flowers in particular, because they’re usually seen as light and delicate, yet I represent them in solid, dark shapes.”
FF: You’ve created a beautiful home that people have loved seeing on Instagram, us included. How did you approach renovating and where do you pull your interiors inspiration from?
TB: Thank you! Before moving to Cornwall, we lived on boats for ten years, so I was beyond excited to finally have more space - especially wall space. I’ve collected interiors books my whole life, so a lot of inspiration has come from those, but my approach is usually quite natural and unplanned.
Budget and existing pieces often dictate what’s possible, so I tend to start with wall colours. We have a palette we always gravitate to - rich jewel tones like reds, greens, blues, pinks, oranges, and yellows (never purple!). The next step is usually finding a rug to anchor the room, and everything else builds from there.
FF: As we embrace autumn, how do you like to spend your mornings, days, and evenings during these months?
TB: I honestly can’t remember my last real day off, but now that both of my children are in full-time childcare, I’m trying to create more structure in my days - keeping my phone away until mid-morning and putting it down again later in the afternoon. Autumn is my favourite season. My studio feels so cozy, especially on stormy evenings, and I love painting while looking out across the Cornish fields and down to the sea. The atmosphere at this time of year is just magical.
FF: Do you have any interior design tips for making a home feel more inviting, or for refreshing your space when you fancy a change?
TB: Don’t worry about trends or styles - just choose things you love: colours, textures, objects, art. If you surround yourself with pieces that genuinely bring you joy, you’ll never tire of them. And have fun with it. The best interiors have a sense of play and contrast; they don’t take themselves too seriously. Things that are too polished can feel lifeless.
Textiles are an easy way to refresh a space. I keep several rugs, throws, and fabrics in my studio that I rotate depending on the mood or collection I’m working on. Swapping cushions or layering fabrics instantly changes the feel of a room, adding warmth and depth without a huge overhaul.
FF: We’re excited to see what the future holds for you. What else have you got coming up?
TB: I have some really exciting projects in the works that I can’t share just yet, but I can say that my illustration practice is expanding into fashion and homeware. It’s an area I’ve wanted to explore for a long time, and I can’t wait to share more soon!
“If you surround yourself with pieces that genuinely bring you joy, you’ll never tire of them. And have fun with it.”
