Star Maker: Daniel Bland Designs

Each month I choose a Star Maker from the nine featured in my print column. This month it’s Daniel Bland Designs

I’ve chosen Daniel as my Star Maker because I find his craft and approach so inspiring. He’s such a talented gilder and manages to work on large-scale projects such as bathrooms and kitchens, making them sparkly and beautiful. His new wallpaper collection is a triumph, so I’m excited to share him with you all.

Introduce us to your brand

I’m Daniel Bland Design. I’m a mural artist and gilder working on commissions across the UK, from larger-than-life paintings to dazzling gold-leaf and gilded masterpieces. It’s a traditional craft requiring expertise and I’ve become renowned in this area. Recently, I launched a new wallpaper collection to make it easier for homeowners worldwide to bring an element of this craft into their own homes to adorn their walls with ease.

What makes you stand out from the crowd?

My large-scale painting and hand-gilded finishes really grab viewers’ attention, whether in person or watching my videos online. I love to show the process of how I create my work, which is something not often shared by artists.

What aspect of your artistry do you enjoy the most?

I get lost in painting the original artwork for my designs, whether it’s a mural commission that I’ll photograph for prints or individual elements on ply panels to arrange digitally into a wallpaper. It’s this that keeps me creatively content.

When did you realise you were a creative soul?

I’ve been creative from a young age and only studied art up to A level because I was always told you can’t make a career out of it. After a decade of working in retail – doing the odd painting commission – I decided to set myself a challenge, and put myself and my skills out there on social media. Four years later and here I am with a cult following and amazing clientele.

What’s the best feedback you’ve received?

I always put my heart and soul into projects, so it’s great to receive positive feedback. However, often when working on commercial mural/gilding commissions members of the public are stopped in their tracks to watch what I’m doing. It’s this type of in-person appreciation that makes me believe in what I’m doing.

Why is sustainability so important to you personally and how you build your brand identity?

Working on a small number of commission pieces has made it easy to control what materials I use and their origin, favouring trustworthy independent businesses. When I started the process of producing my wallpaper collection, I continued to be mindful about the sustainable options available and it was important to me to find a factory that used FSC-certified papers.

When looking at your journey so far, what would you do differently?

I would’ve started this brand journey sooner! I spent far too long doubting myself and spreading myself too thin working two jobs. I’m proud that I’ve grown my business entirely self-funded, but I’ve definitely taken the long way around.

What’s next for your brand? What newness should we keep a lookout for?

I’ve just launched my first wallpaper collection of 17 designs across three different paper types (foil, gold mica, matt). And have a list of design ideas as long as my arm to work on over the coming years!

Find Daniel on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.

See inside Daniel’s gorgeous gilded home in the October/November 2024 issue of Reclaim (available in print or digital).