September 2026 – News

      

A Month of Colour, Writing and India

These past two months have been incredibly deep for me.

On 4 July, I left London and came to India to stay at an ashram in Neyyar Dam, Kerala, in South India. I came here with one task: to write a book about the emotions of colour.

This year marks our 30th anniversary, and I have been wanting to write a book for such a long time. Over the past year, I have been going to writing courses at City Lit College once a week, trying to improve my writing and slowly developing this project.

Since arriving in India, I have been writing every day, for about three hours a day. I wrote 45,000 words.

While at the ashram, I met a wonderful writer and editor. I told her about my book, and she asked if I would like some help. She also asked me to show her what I had written so far.

Very kindly, she told me that there were some very interesting and beautiful parts, but that, overall, it was a bit of a mess.

So, after a month and a half of writing, I had to start again from zero.

Naively, I had thought that writing a book would be easier. It isn’t.

But having her help and guidance has made a huge difference. I now have a much clearer idea of where I am going and what I want the book to be.

It has been an incredibly rewarding, emotional and enjoyable experience. I am discovering things about colour, about writing and, perhaps, about myself that I didn’t expect.

I haven’t finished yet.

I am about halfway there, with 25,000 words so far. A book needs at least 45,000 to 50,000, so there is still a long way to go. But I feel inspired, and I know I will continue with the book when I am back in London.

It is a project I really want to see accomplished. After 30 years of Francesca’s Paints, I feel that this book is a present to myself — a way of celebrating something that has been such an important part of my life and an achievement that I am incredibly proud of.

The book will be made entirely of words, with no images. It is very much the story of Francesca’s Paints and my passion for colour, and of how, for me, colour is energy with an emotion.

Francesca’s Paints

I am sorry that I haven’t been in London over these past two months. This year we have had a reshuffle with the staff, and we have gone back to being a small team, which I actually like. Unfortunately, without me, the boat doesn’t quite sail!

I hope I haven’t caused too many inconveniences. We will be opening again on 7 September, and I am very much looking forward to being back.

I am sure we will be inundated with orders, and we will do our very best to get paint, colour cards and samples out to you as quickly as possible.

Life at the Ashram

Life in an ashram suits me incredibly well.

I like the repetition of the days, the structure and the feeling of being part of a big family, surrounded by like-minded people. I love the yoga and meditation, and the simplicity of everyday life here.

I feel incredibly fit — mentally, physically and spiritually.

India is a country that inspires me. I love the way things are done here. Life can be very simple, and yet there is beauty almost everywhere you look.

It has just been Onam, the biggest and most vibrant cultural festival celebrated in Kerala. It is a harvest festival that brings people of different religions together, symbolising unity, prosperity and joy.

The colours, the food and the flower decorations have been incredible.

And, of course, I have been noticing all the colours.

Everywhere.

           

Colour of the Month

The colour of September is Gioia’s Madras, from the Original Collection, as a nod to my stay in India over the past two months.

A deep orange made with Yellow Ochre, Organic Red and Red Oxide, it is uplifting and elegant. I have seen it in action in many different places around a house, including as an exterior colour, and it is simply wonderful. It changes throughout the day and always looks good.

Gioia’s Madras is a medium-strong colour, it has a gentleness and playfulness about it that makes it feel soft and special.

I hope you have a wonderful month, and I’ll be back with some more news in October.

Until then,

Best,

Francesca