Here at Slowdown Studio we love collaborating with emerging and established artists from across the globe. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Tabby Booth, the artist behind the new Odessa Throw Blanket and one of the winners of our 2025 Slowdown Art Comp!
Tabby is a Cornwall-based artist known for work that sits somewhere between bold graphic art and traditional folk painting with beasts, the sea, and mythology being recurring symbols. 
1. Who do you think is the most exciting emerging creative in your city?
I live in Cornwall rather than a city, but my gallery is based in a town called Falmouth, which has a brilliant creative energy. One of the most exciting emerging creatives here is Rare Bear, a local jeweller whose pieces I love. I’ve collaborated with her a couple of times now, and you’ll usually find my hands covered in her rings.
2. Where are your favourite places to go in your city?
One of my favourite things about Cornwall is its ancient, cosy pubs. After a long coastal walk, there’s nothing better than hunkering down by the fire with a pint of cider.
3. What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself starting out in art?
Part of me wishes I’d pushed myself to pursue art straight out of university, instead of stepping away for ten years. But I also believe that time taught me things I couldn’t have learned otherwise. So my advice would be: trust the timing. Put yourself out there, keep going, and know that even the detours are part of the journey.
4. What are you listening to in your studio at the moment?
I get completely obsessive about music and tend to listen to one artist on repeat for months. At the moment it’s Labrinth. I discovered him through the Euphoria soundtrack, and I’ve been fully immersed ever since.
Odessa Throw Blanket by Tabby Booth X Slowdown Studio
5. What inspired your latest blanket design?
Mermaids have always been a big theme in my work - in fact, it was the first thing I painted when I returned to creating in 2023. I live overlooking the Cornish hills down to the sea, and I’ve always been drawn to maritime folklore and that slightly wild, mythical imagery. The idea of having an almost life-sized mermaid in your sitting room just felt irresistible.
6. What’s your favourite way to slow down?
Reality TV. Completely and unapologetically. My brain moves at a million miles an hour most of the time, and the ridiculousness of it is one of the only things that truly switches me off.
7. What’s the most memorable book you’ve read in the last few years?
Great Art Explained by James Payne. I’m very visually curious but sometimes struggle with concentration when reading, and I love how the book breaks down iconic artworks in a way that’s accessible and rich with context. It’s the kind of book you can dip into and learn something new every time.
8. What has been the happiest or most rewarding moment of your art career?
Collaborating with brands has been incredibly rewarding. I’m a designer at heart, and seeing my work translated onto different products and surfaces - like this blanket - is always such a thrill. Watching other creatives interpret and reimagine my work never gets old.
9. How does living in your city influence your work?
Cornwall is endlessly inspiring. It’s full of folklore, magic, artists and musicians, and there are so many places where it feels like you’ve stepped back in time. That raw, unpretentious, folk energy has deeply shaped the themes and atmosphere of my work.
10. What are you most excited about this year?
I have a long list of collaborations and exhibitions launching this year and next, and I’m bursting to share them. One of the hardest parts of this job is waiting - projects can take years to come out. There are some very big fashion and homeware brand collaborations on the horizon, and I can’t wait for them to finally see the light of day.
Instagram: @tabby.booth.artist
Website: https://www.tabbybooth.com
