Emma J Shipley is known for fantastical hybrid animals and intricately drawn creatures, and Mythica, her collection of wallpapers and fabrics with Clarke & Clarke, is full of them. Below we introduce the creatures behind the key designs and share practical ideas for using them on walls, windows and furniture.
The world of Mythica
Mythica draws on far-off places, myths and legends, and the beauty of the natural world. The result is a parallel universe that is whimsical, a little surreal and never quite what it seems. The patterns are bold and expressive, and the collection runs to fabrics, wallpapers and a range of wallpaper murals. You can see everything together in our Mythica collection.
Meet the creatures
Bosque: the puma of the Osa Peninsula
Bosque was inspired by Emma's travels on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. An enigmatic puma takes centre stage, surrounded by macaws, monkeys, sloths and ocelots. The Bosque Wallpaper gives you the full jungle dreamscape on the wall, while the Bosque Dreams Velvet Fabric brings it to upholstery and curtains. The Bosque Dreams design comes in Forest, Navy, Pink, Seafoam and Bronze colourways.
Paradise Lost: a menagerie of favourites
Paradise Lost gathers many of Emma's best-loved illustrations into one design, inspired by myths, legends and fairytales, with a touch of Toile de Jouy influence turned otherworldly. The Paradise Lost Wallpaper is digitally printed onto a beautifully textured base. For soft furnishings there is the Paradise Lost Fabric and a richer Paradise Lost Velvet Fabric.
How to use the wallpapers
Designs this detailed reward a close look, so put them where people linger. A dining room, a bedroom wall behind the headboard or a downstairs cloakroom are all good spots, because guests have time to spot the creatures hiding in the foliage.
- One wall or four? A single feature wall of Bosque draws the eye without overwhelming a busy living room. In a small room such as a cloakroom, papering every wall creates the full immersive effect.
- Pick paint from the paper. Choose a woodwork or ceiling colour from one of the minor shades in the design, such as the green of the foliage, so the pattern feels anchored.
- Keep the lighting soft. Wall lights and lamps that wash across the paper bring out the detail and texture better than a single bright ceiling light.
How to use the fabrics
If wallpaper feels like too big a step, start with fabric. A pair of cushions or a footstool in Bosque Dreams velvet introduces the puma to a plain sofa, and a Roman blind in Paradise Lost gives a window real personality. A good rule of thumb is to let one Shipley design lead in each room and support it with plain fabrics in shades taken from that design.
Pairing wallpaper and fabric from the same design can work beautifully in a bedroom: paper on the wall behind the bed, with the matching fabric at the window, for a calm, enveloping scheme.
Going further with the wider range
The wider Clarke & Clarke x Emma Shipley range carries the same storytelling. The Highland Wonder Wallpaper is a mural inspired by tales of the Loch Ness monster and prehistoric creatures, ideal for one large, uninterrupted wall. The Seaforest Wallpaper heads under the water with stingrays, coral and mythical sea horses, while Odyssey Mythos brings fish-tailed Pegasi and Doric columns into a surreal Grecian scene.
For a quieter companion to a busy pattern, the Wildstripe Fabric abstracts Emma's zebra illustrations into lines in motion, a useful way to bring the same spirit to a chair or cushion without competing with the creatures on the wall.
Find your creature
Browse the full Clarke & Clarke range online, or visit our shop in Somerset to see Mythica in person. If you would like help choosing between designs or working out how much you need, contact the team and we will gladly advise.
