My Christmas 2024 Window Reveal!

I feel immensely proud of the Christmas windows I've created in the past along with local designer and friend Josephine Compton. Each year I wonder how we are going to match or top the previous years design.

My window is normally unveiled as part of Royal Tunbridge Wells' Big Reveal, a lovely family event that celebrates Tunbridge Wells independant traders. It was started in 2021 by Charlotte and Holly who used to own Zero Waste. However, this year it was decided that there wouldn't be the usual family event. At first I was tempted to be 'bah humbug' about the whole thing, but then I thought how magical the glow of a special festive display is and decided to go for it anyway. Confusingly the big landlord who owns most of the properties in The Pantiles then decided to reinstate the Big Reveal six days before the event to promote their Chalet Christmas Market but didn't involve any of the small independants like me but I thought I'd still share my design with you here anyway!

My Airedale terrier, Rolo,sleeps in the window of my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop while I work. My jewellery atelier is at the back of the shop so people visiting can see where their jewellery is handmade and crafted. I loved the idea of incorporating Rolo into my design so I started by sketching some ideas.

I've been making wreaths for several years now and love foraging for seasonal foliage and berries when I'm out walking Rolo, so liked the idea of framing Rolo in a seasonal wreath.

Evergreen wreaths were used historically to symbolism prosperity in the bleak midwinter and I thought the message seemed fitting as small independent businesses like mine are finding it tough at this time.

I also wanted to incorporate the purple of December's birthstone Tanzanite into my design. I experimented with mixing paints to get just the right shade.

I tried the paint colours on paper and then on glass to see how they'd look. 

We then used lining paper to create full-sized templates for the wreaths. They were a labour of love but also really enjoyable to draw and colour.

I worked in pencil but then added a bold black outline. 

Here's the finished paper template.

I hung the templates in the window of my Tunbridge Wells jewellery shop to trace.

Then it was time to hand paint the design onto the window. Here's the first hand-painted wreath.

I used a white outline and then added the colour as a second layer to help the design stand out.

Josephine transferred my sketches of Rolo's Christmas accessories onto his photographs which were then printed by my local printer Carl.

Two Rolo's to sit in the base of the window and two angelic Rolo's to float at the top.

Two Rolo's patiently waiting to be added to the window display.

And here is the finished design! I hope you like it as much as Rolo does.