What does art mean to you? Is it a fundamental part of your life? 

I was fortunate enough to have been raised in a household full of art, and from an early age, I understood the passion for collecting and curating. When my great-grandmother sadly passed away, I remember being allowed to choose something from her house; her gold and lapis mirror still hangs in my home today. I’m an avid collector, and you will often find me trawling the salerooms for gems. There’s always more wall space!

I also consider myself a visual person. I remember events through colours, textures, locations and clothes. My two youngest daughters are also very creative-minded, having both attended the Glasgow School of Art. It’s been such a pleasure to see their creativity evolve.

Do the visual arts influence your work as a designer? Have any specific exhibitions inspired Brora’s collections and designs?

Funnily enough, exhibitions are often the starting point for our new-season moodboards at Brora.  Some years ago, the David Hockney one at the RA inspired a whole cashmere colour story of vivid nature shades. Then, following a visit to the Paul Smith curation at the Musée de Picasso in Paris, I felt so blown away by the colour combinations that I sent my design team, and this trip inspired our AW24 collection.

You’re a very creative person with great style. Does this ever extend to producing art yourself, or are you a collector rather than a creator?

Not long ago, I went to spend a couple of days with my incredibly talented friend, the artist and illustrator Matthew Rice, to take his watercolour course. He’s the most wonderful teacher, and I’ve become quite hooked on doing little still-life compositions in my sketchbook. It’s incredibly relaxing: the colour mixing and combinations really appeal to me. However, I’m definitely more of an appreciator than a creator, if you mean art in the traditional sense. That said, I do see our designs at Brora, especially our knitwear, as forms of art.

Brora is generously supporting The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain. Why did you choose to sponsor Pallant House Gallery? 

Pallant House is a very special place with an exceptional collection. I can’t really think of anywhere else like it. Having been brought up in Cumbria, we’ve always visited Abbot Hall in Kendal, which is great, but the depth of Pallant House’s archive is just amazing. By sponsoring the show, we were lucky enough to have been able to do a photo shoot for our autumn collection in the space. The joy of having a room full of Christopher Woods to choose from as a backdrop was just mad!

Do you think art and design are vital in education? If so, why? 

Many people are born with an innate eye for art and design, but without nurturing, it may never fully develop. I was just so happy when my children gravitated to the art room from primary school onwards, and their prep school teacher was one of the main reasons they followed that path. It’s given them a visual language, and they each explore this differently.

At home, creativity surrounds us: my husband is a photographer, and as Brora cashmere and fabric swatches have always found their way home, the girls would often make collages and lavender bags from an early age.

I’m always keen to develop any creativity I see in my employees at work. In the early days of Brora, when we only had one shop, each window change was planned like a theatre set. We had some really bonkers displays, and I’d like to create some like those again. It’s so dull when things become too corporate!

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about and would like to share with us? 

There’s always something up my sleeve! My daughters, Jesse and Lola, have created a new diffusion label called SKYE by Brora: it’s a capsule collection, and this autumn’s one is quite exceptional! We shot the campaign on the Isle of Skye, which felt fitting, and as I started Brora at their age, it’s been fascinating to see their take on the brand’s signature aesthetic.  This AW will be their third season, and it’s interesting to see the label’s evolving following.  My other daughter, Nancy, is a set designer and will create the window for the collection’s launch. I’ve given her free rein and am looking forward to the surprise! One to watch out for from 1 October!

We are grateful to Victoria and Brora for their support as a corporate sponsor of The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain. You can see the exhibition until October 20 2024.