Celebrating International Men’s Day: Introducing the Men Behind the Business
Although our customer-facing team is led by women, we also have a small circle of brilliant men who have quietly worked behind-the-scenes for over two decades and shaped Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics into the thriving business it is today. This International Men’s Day, we’re catching up with the men behind the business to share their stories, their craft, and the invaluable roles they play within our creative world.
Mark Scott: photographer and long-standing friend
Mark Scott has been one of the most cherished creative voices behind the brand for 18 years. As a gifted photographer and treasured friend of Vanessa’s, Mark has helped define the visual language of our fabrics, creating soft, light-filled images that feel as calm and natural as the English countryside that inspires them.
Mark’s very first job for us was back in May 2005, which is something he still recalls with disbelief. He looks back fondly on previous shoots where his babies were cradled in Vanessa’s arms during breaks!
When asked what he loves most about his craft, Mark speaks about lighting with a kind of reverence. Photography literally means ‘painting with light’, and this remains at the heart of every image he captures. Although technology has changed drastically since our earliest shoots on film, Mark still believes that lighting is essential; especially when capturing the subtle yet complex hues that Vanessa is known for (moss greens, duck egg blues, ochres, saffrons).
Mark describes working with us as a wonderfully collaborative process. As a team, we invest huge amounts of time, energy, and expense in curating and styling the images to showcase Vanessa’s fabrics at their best, and always endeavour to make Mark’s shoots enjoyable.
On a personal level, Mark is a huge fan of Vanessa’s fabrics – his dining chair pads are upholstered in Cow Parsley in Moss and Cornflower, which sit beautifully against his sage-coloured walls.
Howard “Podge” Voyce: master printer at Ivo’s Textiles
Meet Howard (fondly known as Podge): the man who helps transform our designs from artwork to printed fabric. As a lifelong print-room expert and Floor Manager at Ivo’s Textiles in Southall, Podge has worked with Vanessa for more than twenty years. He is one of the biggest characters in the factory, full of warmth, humour, and the most extraordinary stories (including brushing shoulders with Vivienne Westwood herself!).
Podge’s job at Ivo’s Textiles is to oversee print runs, guide customers through technical decisions, and finish printed fabrics using a process known as sanforising, which gives them that soft, supple feel. Despite working in the industry for over 40 years, his enthusiasm hasn’t dimmed over time. “At 63, I still get the same buzz as when I was 16!”
He also speaks warmly about printing Vanessa’s fabrics, especially the intricacies of the printing process itself. As Podge explains, some prints are wonderfully straightforward while others are far more taxing, particularly when setting up the Gali printing machines. “Measure twice, cut once” is the mantra he swears by.
Podge loves seeing new designs arrive for printing, and has even had two designs named after him! His favourite designs of Vanessa’s are Lattice Leaf and Little Fern – he loves the gentle colours, soft lines, and the way they fill the cloth.
Jo Taylor: upholsterer and furniture maker
Upholsterer and furniture maker Jo Taylor has worked with Vanessa from the earliest days of the business, helping to shape many of our most loved chairs, headboards, and sofas. He’s extremely skilled, meticulous, and endlessly reliable, bringing an instinctive understanding of craftsmanship that elevates every frame he touches.
Jo enjoys the artistry and precision of traditional upholstery; a skilled craft that often takes years to master. Many people don’t realise the level of patience and dedication it takes to learn the upholstery trade to a professional level, he tells us, but his satisfaction comes from seeing a piece come together stitch by stitch and layer by layer.
He also enjoys working with Vanessa’s fabrics themselves, describing them as “wonderfully interesting prints to work with”, with each offering its own character and set of challenges that make the upholstery process extremely rewarding. His favourite design is Simple Ticking Detail in all its colourways.
Nicholas Arbuthnott: steadfast support and architectural vision
Nicholas Arbuthnott has been by Vanessa’s side for more than 40 years. Not just as a husband, but as the calm, reliable support behind the business. He’s responsible for the numbers, forecasting, planning, and the many unseen tasks that keep everything running smoothly, and is always there to offer gentle words of encouragement to Vanessa.
Since the very beginning, Nicholas has lent his architectural eye to numerous projects that have shaped the brand – from designing and building exhibition stands at the Country Living Shows in Islington and Homes & Garden show at Olympia, to planning and project-managing our Cirencester shop and showroom. Seeing these spaces come to life has given him enormous gratification over the years.
Nicholas has also contributed creatively, helping to design ‘By the Sea’ during Vanessa’s recovery from a fall in January 2017. To this day, he gets huge satisfaction from spotting the design on people’s cushions or blinds, quietly hoping to one day find it proudly displayed in a drawing room!
He’s so proud of everything that Vanessa has achieved with her fabulous designs and finds it hard to choose just one favourite. But when pressed, he admitted he loves Little Fern in Lichen: a gentle, natural shade that feels both fresh and timeless.
Spruce up your space with our nature-inspired fabrics
Feeling inspired by the craftsmanship and creativity that sits at the heart of our business? Explore our full fabric collection and get ready to find your new favourite design!
We sell fabrics exclusively designed by Vanessa Arbuthnott, along side small, bespoke collection of Made to Measure items which includes curtains, blinds, sofas, footstools, chairs, headboards, and quilts, all handmade specially for you by master crafts people.
