Sheffield creative finds expression in multiple fields

Sheffield’s Lisa Twyman is a design multi-hyphenate, creating both beautiful interiors and the furnishings that fill them.

An interior designer by profession, Lisa has recently branched into ceramics, printmaking and homeware design – all influenced by her love for mid-century Bauhaus aesthetics. Her signature style is colourful, tactile and unmistakably hand-crafted.

“Any product is a combination of the elements used to make it, and things that have been through an intricate, human process act differently and add so much to a space,” she said.

“There is incredible work being done by South African and KwaZulu-Natal craftspeople. I love being able to shine a light on local work when designing interiors, and it is important to me to use local artisans as much as possible in the product-making process.”

Lisa’s main business remains interior design – something she “fell into” after completing a psychology degree and “having a mid-life crisis at 26”. But looking back, the signs had always pointed to a creative future.

“I grew up the daughter of the pharmacist in Melmoth, Zululand. We spent plenty of time outdoors and I have clear memories of sitting in the pine forests, making ‘home floorplans’ out of pine needles!” she recalled.

“I found my way to it eventually, then life got in the way – living abroad and having kids. I opened my studio in Durban in 2007 and later moved to the North Coast, returning to the location of my childhood holidays.”

Though she doesn’t practise professionally, Lisa said her psychology background has proved valuable when interpreting client briefs.

Her creative curiosity soon expanded into product design, and in 2020, she launched her first homeware collection after being inspired during weekly ceramic classes. Since then, she has released art prints, furniture and a bold, statement lighting range that recently led to a collaboration with Swiss brand USM. The collaboration was launched last month at Lisa’s home studio in Dunkirk Estate.

You can view her product collections and learn more at lisatwyman.com.

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