Juneberry and Bird: The Story Behind My Nature-Inspired Design

Some designs begin with a sketchbook. My Juneberry and Bird design began with a family of great tits nesting outside my fourth-floor flat in East London—and a little reminder of home.

Living beside the Olympic Stadium, surrounded by buildings and busy city life, I hadn’t expected birds to nest outside our front door. Watching them care for their young, then seeing the fledglings take their first flight, brought so much joy.

Those small moments became the starting point for Juneberry and Bird: a nature-inspired pattern featuring great tits, foliage and Juneberry berries, which I developed for my wallpaper, fabric and homeware collections.

Great Tits, Childhood Memories and an East London Flat

Growing up in Warwickshire, I had great tits nesting outside my bedroom window. As a teenager, I didn’t always appreciate their early-morning noise when I wanted to sleep in! Looking back, though, they were a lovely part of my childhood.

Finding them outside our London home brought those memories back. Even on the fourth floor, in a very urban setting, there was this little pocket of wildlife happening right beside us.

I photographed the birds and watched how they perched, moved and looked after their young. Those photographs gave me more than a reference for their markings: they helped me capture the character of the birds I had enjoyed watching.

That connection is what I love about designing with British wildlife. A bird in a pattern can remind someone of their own garden, a childhood home or a familiar visitor to the bird feeder.

My First Surface Pattern—and a Stolen Laptop

Juneberry and Bird has another story behind it: it was my first surface pattern design.

Unfortunately, on the day I created the original, my laptop was stolen. I hadn’t backed it up, so that first version disappeared with it.

The design you see today began as my attempt to redraw the idea. I have no record of exactly what the original looked like, but the birds and the memories that inspired it stayed with me.

It wasn’t the easiest introduction to creating a collection, but it makes this design a particularly meaningful part of my business.

Why Juneberry?

Juneberry, also known as Amelanchier, brings another layer of nature into the design. I loved the colours of its berries and the way the foliage and fruit could frame the birds.

The branches gave me a way to connect the individual illustrations, creating movement through the pattern.

I have since planted a Juneberry tree in my own garden, continuing that connection between the plants I enjoy, the wildlife around me and the designs I create.

From My Photographs to the Finished Illustrations

My own photography is an important part of my design process. I try to have a camera nearby so I can capture those fleeting moments that are easy to miss.

For Juneberry and Bird, I worked from photographs of the great tits nesting outside our home. Using a Wacom tablet, I drew directly onto the computer, then developed the artwork in Adobe Illustrator.

I wanted to simplify the birds while keeping the features that made them recognisable: their markings, posture and the angle of their heads.

Some details were exaggerated slightly; others were left out. Each decision helped turn a photograph into an illustration with its own character.

Not every drawing made it into the finished pattern. Trying different poses, revisiting shapes and deciding what to leave out were all part of finding the right balance.

How I Turned the Drawings into a Repeating Pattern

Once I had drawn the birds, berries and leaves, I began arranging them into a repeating pattern.

A repeat needs to flow across a surface without an obvious join. I moved the individual elements around, adjusting the spaces between them and checking how the branches connected.

The birds provide little points of interest, while the berries and foliage help your eye move through the design.

The two birds in the finished pattern look away from each other. I sometimes joke that I must have fallen out with my husband on the day I arranged them!

I also considered how the pattern would work at different scales. Wallpaper, fabric, cushions and lampshades each show a design differently, so I needed to think about how much of the pattern someone would see on each product.

Printed samples helped me check the colours, spacing and overall feel beyond the computer screen.

Bringing Juneberry and Bird into Your Home

For me, the appeal of bird wallpaper and botanical fabric is the connection they bring to the outdoors.

Juneberry and Bird can become a focal point on a wall or a smaller detail through a cushion or lampshade. You can build a room around the pattern or introduce it gradually through accessories.

When choosing accompanying paint, I would start by looking closely at the colourway you love. Pick out a quieter shade for a gentle backdrop, or echo one of the smaller details for a stronger connection.

Plain fabrics and natural textures can give the birds and foliage space to stand out. You don’t need to match every element of a room: repeating one or two colours can help bring it together.

For wallpaper and fabric, I always recommend looking at a sample in your own space. Check it beside your furniture and flooring, and look at it in daylight and under your evening lighting.

Explore wallpaper and fabric samples.

Designed by Me and Made in the UK

Supporting UK manufacturing is an important part of my business.

I develop the artwork myself and work with UK manufacturers to turn my patterns into finished products. Seeing a design move from my photographs and drawings onto wallpaper, fabric and homeware is still one of my favourite parts of the process.

Juneberry and Bird has grown from that first surface pattern into a design used across my homeware and stationery collections.

You can explore my wallpaper, fabric and lampshade collections to see the designs currently available.

If you need help finding Juneberry and Bird in a particular product, or would like to discuss samples or lead times, email me at lorna@lornasyson.co.uk.

Juneberry and Bird: Frequently Asked Questions

Which birds feature in the Juneberry and Bird design?

The birds are great tits. I drew them from my own photographs of birds nesting outside my fourth-floor flat in East London, which also reminded me of the great tits outside my childhood bedroom in Warwickshire.

What is Juneberry?

Juneberry is another name for Amelanchier, a flowering shrub or small tree. Its foliage and berries inspired the botanical elements surrounding the birds in my design.

How did Lorna Syson create Juneberry and Bird?

I worked from my own photographs, drawing the birds with a Wacom tablet before developing the illustrations and repeating pattern in Adobe Illustrator. I then checked printed samples to assess the colours, scale and spacing.

Which products feature Juneberry and Bird?

I have used Juneberry and Bird across my homeware and stationery collections, including wallpaper, fabric and lampshades. Availability can change, so please browse the relevant collection or contact me if you are looking for a particular item.

Can I order wallpaper or fabric samples?

Yes. Visit my samples page to see the options currently available. You will need to create an account or sign in before purchasing samples.

Where are Lorna Syson products made?

My products are made in the UK. I create the designs and work with UK manufacturers to bring the collections to life.

A Little Piece of My Story in Your Home

Juneberry and Bird will always remind me of those birds outside our London flat, my childhood in Warwickshire and the first steps of creating my own patterns.

When you choose it for your home, you’re bringing those observations and memories into your own surroundings. I hope the birds become familiar favourites, just as the real ones did for me.

Explore my wallpaper collection or order a sample to start planning your space.