Art for awkward spaces with Atelier Printworks

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Like most 200-year-old cottages – and most other homes, for that matter – our house is full of awkward corners. There are tall alcoves, tricky gaps between windows, a tight hallway and landing, and a narrow double-height section of wall where the staircase twists up from the dining room. Working out what to do with areas like these can be a challenge, so I was very pleased to discover Atelier Printworks – a company that specialises in horizontal and vertical wall art for difficult spaces where standard proportions don’t fit.

Founders John and Kathryn came up with the idea for Atelier Printworks after struggling to find artwork of the right size when renovating their home. Rather than compromise, they decided to create their own and a new business was born. It now has a curated collection of designs for an array of decor styles, all created specifically to suit long, narrow and wide formats. Each print is available in a range of dimensions and with a choice of floating, classic or stretched-canvas frames.  What’s more, they’re made to order at specialist framing facilities across the UK, Europe, the USA and Australia, meaning they’re shipped locally to reduce transport times and emissions.

There are plenty of calming, abstract artworks that match our rustic-minimalist décor, and I chose two options that feed into my love of bringing nature indoors: a vertical oil painting of a foggy landscape in dark, moody tones, and a horizontal rendering of a horizon in soft beige and white. I then added floating walnut frames, which create a subtle shadow gap around the canvasses for a sophisticated gallery-style finish. 

The vertical print now sits in our living room, where it adorns the narrow alcove between the chimney breast and window. It’s a spot that definitely needed something, but I didn’t want anything overcomplicated or over-imposing that would fight with the items around it. This is ideal: it’s refined and pared-back, but it has a hidden depth that reveals itself as you look more closely. I also love its ethereal atmosphere, and the way the muted browns pick out the finishes of other pieces in the room. 

Before hanging it downstairs, I also tried out the vertical print in the main bedroom, where there’s a plain stretch of wall between one of the windows and the fitted wardrobes. I’ve always thought it looks a little bare, yet standard-format artworks seem to float aimlessly in the space. A long, narrow print turned out to be the perfect solution, adding presence and balancing out the tall lines to either side. I’ll now choose something permanent for this spot, safe in the knowledge that the size works brilliantly. 

The horizontal artwork will eventually sit on the wall above our TV, but that side of the living room isn’t yet finished so in the meantime I’ve hung it above our bed. It creates a beautiful focal point yet it’s also wonderfully calm – just what you need in a room dedicated to rest and relaxation. I particularly like the way everyone will see something different in the composition – to me it evokes a seascape punctuated by a distant island or headland, and it reminds me of the rugged vistas and big open skies of Cornwall and Northumberland.  

If you have similarly awkward spaces to deal with (and let’s face it, most of us do!), you can browse Atelier Printworks’ full selection of vertical and horizontal wall art here. Prices start at £79.99, with free shipping. 

All photography by Abi Dare