Modern Miniaturists

For most people there is something unequivocally fascinating about all things miniature, from mini versions of food, to mini dogs and mini handbags. Maybe this is because small things are endearing, they create an alternative world or represent a nostalgia for childhood – either way we love all things mini! This can definitely be said for miniature interiors and houses and we have fallen in love with the meticulous work of Mulvany & Rogers and Simon Williams Miniatures, who work to a jaw dropping 1:12 scale for clients worldwide.

The dynamic duo Mulvany & Rogers are a masterful pair on the Miniatures scene. In their thirty years they have miniaturised many lovely buildings including Hampton Court, Versailles, Buckingham Palace, The Albert Hall and Brighton Pavilion, to name a few!

Trained as art historians, they use this background to ensure all their work is historically correct and work hard to achieve a balance between pure historic reconstruction and their personal artistic statement. They have said: “In our interiors especially, we aim to recreate an atmosphere and energy, to give the feeling that someone has only just left the room”

Caption :  Mulvany & Rogers Library Interior inspired by a Robert Adam House, with more modern furnishings. The elegant and delicate stucco work is set off by the walls of EBNP French Grey.

Caption :  Mulvany & Rogers Swedish House exterior using EBNP colour Brimstone 

Mulvany & Rogers have chosen our colours for a number of projects and they have told us why our paint is the one for them. Susie says that “We control the light effects in our rooms very carefully and so the chalky matte finish creates the perfect base point to work from, whether we’re re-creating simple lime-washed plaster or adding effects such as aging or old lead paint.”

Mulvany & Rogers say that there is a calm softness to our colour range which is perfect for miniatures as strong colourbecomes even more intense when used in a small space. The duo also noted that they use several close shades of white to create a simple overall ‘white’ effect in miniature. Of course, as creatives who appreciate colour, they don’t always use straight-from-the-pot paint and will blend two close shades from the palette to give even more colour subtlety.

Caption :  Mulvany & Rogers Interior using EBNP Wash Stop (rubbed back) and Plain White in a panelled dining room of a late 18^th Century Swedish manor house.

Susie goes onto say “We’re massive fans of Edward’s paints! We’ve been telling any miniaturist who’d listen that the paint is perfect for miniature needs – It’s also good to know that in the general studio where we paint, the air is free of VOCs as we like to think in terms of quality not quantity for all involved!”

We are also in admiration of the work of Simon Williams who combines a lifelong passion for architecture and miniatures in his creation of miniature interiors and buildings to a 1:12 scale.

Simon had been making his miniatures for around 20 years as a hobby, however due to circumstances as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic Simon has taken the leap and is now creating his marvelous miniatures full time. Simon’s partner Scott deals with the tech side of things along with social media and general enquiries whilst he focuses on designing and building. Simon told us that they have “been delighted at how quickly and successfully the business went from an idea to a viable opportunity and we’ve met and worked with some wonderful clients from far and wide over the past year”.

Caption :  Simon Williams Miniature Interior with EBNP Cinnamon on Gothic Bookcases

Caption :  Simon Williams’ photograph while creating a miniature exterior with EBNP Sample Pots, Hand-Painted Fan Deck and Colour Chart  

We, at Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, have had the pleasure of working with Simon in fulfilling his every paint need. As EBNP was founded as a result of Edward Bulmer’s work in historic houses we couldn’t be more thrilled to see these familiar scenes materialize in miniature form!

We love the playful nature yet serious skill of these miniature interiors and we are so glad that Simon has chosen to use our colours. Simon says that “Interiors are a passion of mine, albeit on a miniature scale, and I really appreciate good quality paint to help me get the desired effect. Thank goodness for the exemplary products from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Their hand painted Fan Deck makes the design process a real pleasure.”

Caption : Simon Williams’ Miniature Cabinets for miniature shop using EBNP Garter Blue and Stone White

Caption : Simon Williams Miniature Shop front inspired by Robert Kime antiques store using                                                                                        EBNP French Blue

We think this smooth blue and warm off-white combination really accentuates the beautiful shapes of this cabinet but would also be a great colour combination in a kitchen or pantry space that needed an extra pop of colour. Simon says “We love working with Edward Bulmer Paints for lots of reasons, but namely because of the eco credentials and ethos of the company. Of course, we adore the variety and consistency of the paint colours and finishes, and particularly appreciate the historical significance associated with the pallets. The people, too, are a dream to work with make every transaction a pleasure.” As too do we think of Simon Williams Miniatures who are a joy to work with and we can’t wait for many more miniatures to come to life!

These talented teams are fulfilling our every miniature need and we can’t wait to collaborate on more marvellouscreations. For more images of their beautiful work give them both a follow on Instagram at @mulvanyandrogers and @simonwilliamsminiatures.

Words by Evie Bulmer