Hello! Welcome to my world of surface pattern design where I thrive on starting conversations with eloquent patterns! My name is Natalie Couto, and I am the artist and talker behind the patterns. I am a self-taught illustrator and freelance surface designer from Toronto, Canada now living with my husband and daughter in Malta. Before living my dream job, I worked as a full-time manager, running everything from boutique hotels to hair salons and hydrotherapy spas to beauty bars. Now, I find daily inspiration for my designs in seaside nature and the ancient architecture of the Maltese Islands.
As a young girl, I would spend hours painting and drawing alongside my grandmother, Annaliese who enjoyed painting portraits, florals, animals and landscapes. I remember my ‘Ansi’ travelling to the Canary Islands every winter where she was inspired by the tropical surroundings and could paint to her hearts content. I am forever grateful for Ansi’s artistic influence and now I cherish the time I share with my young daughter, drawing and painting together.
How it all began…
Moving across the world and living a different way of life gave me the freedom to tap back into my creativity. I had been 'zentangling' daily in Toronto to relieve work-related stress and continued to draw in Malta. I began posting my artwork on Instagram in response to a few drawing competitions and discovered the world of surface design and the highly acclaimed Make It In Design courses.
finding the voice behind Patterntalk
I knew I was hooked on creating designs from my artwork since the creation of my very first technical repeat pattern. Patterns have always been an intriguing form of expression and communication for me. I found the decision to brand my design studio as patterntalk an intuitive one - born from the belief that patterns can 'speak volumes' about a person's lifestyle and cultural influences.
As of December 2017, I am a proud graduate of the MIID Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design program. I am absolutely thrilled to be creating patterns on a daily basis for several lifestyle markets - including interiors (wallpaper, home decor) and textiles (bolt fabric, apparel).
You can visit the PRODUCTS section to find products made with my patterns or contact me directly to collaborate on custom designs or to license my work!