Anna Campbell Jones has become a well-kent face in Glasgow, and throughout Scotland, as one of the judging line up on the extremely popular Scotland’s Home of the Year TV show. But in 2024, Anna started another new venture and launched her own range of textiles and homewares where every aspect of her collection is true to her ethos of ethical craftsmanship. With an exciting new range in collaboration with Yvonne Elliot-Kellighan of No Rules Wallpaper, Anne Marie Hillan took the opportunity to chat to them both about their innovative way of designing wallpapers and fabrics.
ANNA CAMPBELL JONES
Anna grew up in Hammersmith with her Mum, who she says would have loved to have gone to Art School, and her architect Dad. She was always encouraged to take part in creative hobbies and projects as a child, so it is perhaps not surprising that she chose to study the relatively new discipline of Interior Design at the world renowned Glasgow School of Art.
Anna arrived here in 1988, fell in love with the city and lived in the West End throughout her studies. By 1991 she had graduated from GSA and met her future husband. Although on graduation, Anna had moved to work in London, her connection with Glasgow was to be kept alive when one of her first projects was to design the interiors of the Clockwork Orange – our very own Glasgow Underground. It was Anna that designed that instantly recognisable orange upholstery that graced our trains until last year.
West End Home
Then 25 years ago, when Anna and her husband had their first son they returned and made the West End of Glasgow their home. Anna lectured part-time at the Glasgow School of Art and had her own Interior Design Consultancy for 20 years at the same time as bringing up her two children. Anna has always kept herself very busy!
It was when she was working at GSA and juggling her lecturing, her business, and her family that she was offered the opportunity to take part in a pilot show which was to be known as Scotland’s Home of the Year. Known affectionately to fans as SHOTY, Anna believes that had it not been for the fire at the GSA she would have turned down the opportunity to take part as she simply could not have taken on anything more. But with ‘the Mack’, as the GSA is known, closed, Anna was able to take the plunge into TV and has gone on to be an integral part of the most watched entertainment show in Scotland.
Anna absolutely recognises that this was a bold new career at the age of 50. But by this time divorced, and with her children grown up, Anna knew this was an opportunity.
By 2023, and by now instantly recognisable with a faithful social media following, there was another landmark in her career when she was nominated for and won Scottish Influencer of the Year in her category.
On Brand
An astonished Anna was then approached to promote brands on behalf of other companies, and the idea was born that she might just create and promote her own brand and produce her own range of homewares. Anna knew she would want the products to be sustainable, made from natural materials and be Scottish, affordable and of the highest quality. Inspired by Norman Wilkinson watercolours and named after shipping forecast areas, the Malin, Lundy and Forth signature collections were launched in February 2024. Each collection includes art prints, notebooks, candles, and ceramics – and with the help of a collaboration with No Rules Wallpaper now includes wallpaper, cushions, and fabric.
She has gone on to launch two further collections, Olympic and Clockwork Orange, and her most recent work is a collaboration with Ocean Plastic Pots with whom she has created wall ornaments in the shape of Flying Swallows. Each swallow is made from recycled ocean plastic which has been sourced from those same shipping forecast areas. Reminiscent of the Flying Ducks of the 1970s made famous on Coronation Street, they’re proving extremely popular.
What’s Next
So, what is next for Anna Campbell Jones? Chances are you’ve watched the recent Christmas edition of SHOTY – you may even have bought an Anna Campbell Jones Christmas bauble! And I have no doubt there will be other product lines and opportunities for her this year. Why am I sure? Because Anna Campbell Jones is an engaging, witty, self sufficient and successful woman who had the confidence and self belief to entirely reinvent herself as a TV presenter at the age of 50 and has then gone on to launch her own homeware brand at 55.
Anna’s enthusiasm for life, SHOTY and her homeware range is infectious and she is living life to the full, right here in the West End. Moving forward when many might be winding down, thriving on the new opportunities, and running with them. I so look forward to seeing what she does next.
YVONNE ELLIOT-KELLIGHAN
The founders and creative directors of No Rules Wallpaper also met at Glasgow School of Art. Yvonne Elliot-Kellighan and Marion Parola met as undergraduates, completed their Degrees and Masters together, and immediately after graduation, set up in business together.
Their Glasgow based company Bespoke Atelier, has been successfully leading public art projects all over the UK for many years, using their love of bold pattern and texture to create large scale artworks for schools, community centres, civic spaces, our NHS, and housing developments. By doing so they’ve instantly improved the environment and atmosphere for service users. I spoke to Yvonne in person to find out all about their work and how they came to be in collaboration with Anna Campbell Jones.
Back to her Roots
Yvonne explains that the public art project work takes years from first concept to planning and installation and their interest in that work continues. But two years ago Yvonne wanted to go back to the roots of their textiles and design background and develop their patterns into wallpaper and fabric and No Rules Wallpaper was the result.
So what is different about No Rules Wallpaper? What rules does it not have? I had to ask! Well, traditional wallpaper is a top to bottom repeat with off cuts causing massive expensive waste (we have all been there!). No Rules Wallpaper has been intentionally designed not to have a repeat pattern.
Yvonne explains that there is no right or wrong way to apply it, all parts of the roll work together to form a seamless covering. And because of this it will look unique on every wall. It sounds to me like a DIY-ers dream product.
Yvonne was able to show me an assortment of images of their distinct designs and it is both fascinating and incredible as the paper does not match – and does not try to match – and yet looks absolutely fantastic. It is made to order in the UK with a turnaround of around three weeks also avoiding batch wastage. Yvonne and Marion are committed to avoiding waste and promoting sustainability at every opportunity.
Dynamic Duo
So, how did the collaboration with Anna come about? Yvonne was aware of Anna through their mutual connection with the Glasgow School of Art. They started chatting over Instagram and with their ethical and sustainable ethos very much in common, No Rules have brought Anna’s Malin, Forth and Lundy designs to life by layering the bold geometric shapes with warm colour tones. Dazzle Dawn and Dazzle Dusk are the result and are available in both wallpaper and in a fantastic fabric which is also designed not to need matching seams. There is also a range based on Anna’s Olympic design.
The results are fabulous as a feature wall, as striking curtains, or on upholstery – the collaboration is a startling success. No Rules have great ideas for future collaborations and future ranges too.
I can see why Yvonne and Anna hit it off as Yvonne’s passion and energy for her products is genuinely inspiring. I left our chat enthused by all things wallpaper and fabric and unrealistically wishing that I too had attended the GSA and become part of this amazing creative community.
If you want to see the wallpaper and fabric collections, the entire No Rules range can be ordered online, or viewed right here in two great West End interior stores – Inhoos on Great Western Road (where Anna and No Rules had a pop-up shop launching their collection recently) and Designworks on Gibson Street. It’s well worth a look.
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