Polly Wolly Doodles brings her playful, painterly touch to the quiet poetry of the English countryside. A multi-disciplinary artist with roots in doodling and a flair for fabric, Polly creates delicate floral studies using chalk paint and acrylic, each one thoughtfully framed in textiles she wraps by hand.
Her consistent, neutral-led palette creates harmony across her pieces, while vintage and organic fabrics add depth, texture, and story. Blending past and present with care, Polly’s work invites us to slow down and enjoy the shifting beauty of the seasons.
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic journey?
I am based in Somerset, with three young children. Following the birth of my second child, and developing PND, I began to draw and paint as a way to come back to myself. I have since been diagnosed with ADHD – art is very much my special interest, and I feel like I haven’t quite scratched an itch if I don’t create something every day!
I initially offered pencil portraits, but then felt drawn to colour and botanicals, and so began to explore, first with oil pastels, then watercolour and now I offer originals painted using chalk paint, which are framed using fabrics and papers.
2. What inspired you to pursue your craft? Was there a defining moment or influence that sparked your passion?
It was feeling totally lost that inspired me ! I was looking after two small children on my own week in week out as my partner worked away from home and struggling with my mental health.
I had an accident involving my very overheated car that resulted in me getting really burnt on my face and arm – I think everything had to metaphorically and physically reach boiling point before I realised I needed something that gave my brain room to roam away from the demands of being a mum/running the home/domestic life.
Your craft
3. What materials or techniques do you use, and why are they important to your process?
I use chalk paint – which is natural and free of toxins. I use organic/reclaimed fabrics as much as possible – I love repurposing things like old cushion covers – trying to work as sustainably as I can feels important.
4. Can you tell us about a favourite piece you’ve created and the story behind it?
I created an entire auricular theatre of 9 individual paintings in a huge fabric covered frame – I loved it because I sat on the idea for nearly a year, and just felt very proud when I actually made it as I didn’t make it necessarily to sell but more to just ‘see’ it in real life
Creative process
5. What does a typical day in your studio or workshop look like?
Always starts with coffee, then if I am painting, I am really disciplined about sitting down to work by 9 at the absolute latest. I will listen to an audio book or one of my favourite podcasts and pretty much not lift my head up from my painting until I have to collect my kids from school! If I am making frames, I work on the floor, and gradually become more and more covered in glue and scraps of fabric until I emerge from the studio like some sort of sea monster.
6. Do you have any unique rituals or habits that help you stay creative?
Podcasts/audiobooks are a must, as is coffee – which is actually normally forget about but I need to have it on my desk.
7. How do you handle creative blocks? Do you have any strategies or tips for overcoming them?
When I feel blocked, I have to be really strict with myself and down tools. Stepping away, giving my head time to calibrate and just stopping for a moment is the only way through for me. I don’t create when I feel blocked, but I will turn to archives online to research things and try and find something to help me move forward and look at my issues in a new light. But really, I think often creative blocks are the brains way of calling for a break, so I try to make myself do that (which is easier said than done).
Challenges and successes
8. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a maker, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge for me is managing my ADHD – its makes me so sensitive to rejection – perceived or real, it makes me hyper critical of myself, it makes me overload myself with choices so that moving forward can be really overwhelming. It makes the ‘boring bits’ (aka the essential, grown up parts !) of the job feel like pulling teeth as the reward centres in my brain feed off making art and enjoying how it looks etc as opposed to thinking about how I’m going to book a courier and package up my work on time.
9. What’s been your proudest moment or achievement so far?
Definitely having my work sold in Liberty.
Inspiration
10. Where do you draw inspiration from for your work? What sparks your imagination and creativity?
Gosh I spend HOURS researching historical artwork – I go back as far as medieval books of hours pages, trawling online libraries and looking at colours, compositions, pattern – thinking about how I can combine all the things I love into one single piece. I love looking at old fabric pattern books, relics of pieces and scraps of salvaged embroideries.
11. Do you have a favourite artist, maker, movement, or tradition that has influenced your craft?
I don’t have a singular favourite for any of these as Im just constantly moving through so much information and research that I am alway falling in love with something/someone new – but I really adore the Arts and Crafts movement, I come back to it a lot.
12. How does colour influence your practice; is it an important part of your process? Do you have a particular palette or favourites?
Any go-to sources for colour inspiration? Colour is vital – I play with it nonstop – I am self taught so things like colour theory aren’t lodged in my brain, so I have to learn through trial and error. I love mixing muted tones with vibrant dashes in my paintings. Go to sources for colour inspiration comes from my old botanical books which are mostly from National Trust second hand book shops and a treasure trove for inspiration.
Perspectives and goals
13. What role does your environment play in shaping your creativity?
I live in the Somerset countryside and watch the seasons changing day by day – I get so much out of being in my garden, identifying plants when out on walks, observing the sky and the birds – for me its all about soaking up and watching.
14. What do you want people to feel when they experience your work?
I want them to feel their dopamine levels rise, and their hearts and minds to feel happy and joyful!
15. What are you currently working on, and what excites you most about it?
I am working on a collection for Maison Flaneur, as well as some collaborations with some lovely brands – I really love collaborative work as it makes me feel like part of team which is important amongst all the days working alone in my studio.
Advice and reflection
16. What advice would you give to someone starting out as a maker?
Keep going – move forward, research, connect with fellow makers, be nice and own your mistakes.
17. If you could go back to the start of your career, what advice would you give your younger self?
To be kind to myself and have more self belief!
Closing thoughts
18. If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would collaborate with Alida Withoos – she painted in 1600’s but her work feels modern somehow – its magical
19. Where can people find your work, and how can they support you?
I am on instagram, I have a website (which I’m a trying to learn how to use!) and I also sell my work in Liberty London – when I have drops, I update my instagram with all details as to where it will be available from so my advice is to follow me there!
Support Polly by browsing her soft-hued collections, discovering the tactile charm of her hand-framed florals, and following her journey as she continues to blend fabric, paint, and nature into something quietly extraordinary.
Explore Polly’s latest collection and follow her creative journey:
