Hi, I’m Sue Cheer.
I’m a New Zealand surface pattern designer with a heart that has always leaned toward the English countryside, where I lived for almost a decade. There I found endless inspiration in hedgerows, wildflower fields, old gardens, and winding village lanes.
My work is shaped by the things I have always loved most: nature, childhood memory, mythology, fairytales, and the decorative arts. I’m especially drawn to the rich ornament of the Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau, as well as the magic of museums, old books, historic houses, and galleries. The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of my favourite places in the world.
I’m endlessly inspired by what is often overlooked; the tiny things, the forgotten things, the slightly wonky and weathered things that carry character and story. A battered old object, a scattering of wildflowers growing in an unforgiving crack in concrete, mushrooms at the base of a tree, a curious little creature hidden among leaves. These are often the details that stay with me most.
As a designer, I’m a maximalist at heart. I love creating intricate patterns filled with hand-drawn detail, layered texture, and hidden motifs waiting to be discovered. I want my work to feel like stepping into a story…something nostalgic, decorative, and enchanting, yet still fresh enough to live in modern homes.
Before becoming a surface pattern designer, I studied Ancient History and Anthropology at university and later worked as a freelance writer. Looking back, it all makes sense. I’ve always been drawn to the way people tell stories, make meaning, and surround themselves with objects, symbols, and beauty. Surface pattern design has become the place where all of those loves meet.
Through my work, I hope to create patterns that feel both personal and timeless; pieces that invite wonder, spark memory, and become part of the stories people build around them.