Decorate your modern home with vintage-inspired design
My mission as an artist and designer is to make your space more beautiful. Whether that’s through stitching patterns that you stitch up yourself, fabric you can sew your own projects with, home decor products such as wallpaper, or original oil paintings or art prints, my aim is to uplift you and your surroundings. ❤️
Meet Dana
I am an artist, teacher and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. After a training injury ended my career as a RCAF Intelligence Officer, I returned to my artistic roots as a way to heal and help inspire others to be creative. I have recently returned to oil painting after a 15 year hiatus — I’ve had to adapt my practice around my injury, but it brings me such joy to create objects of beauty that enlivens others. I also specialize in vintage-inspired botanical illustrations and surface pattern designs, and spent many years designing sassy cross stitch patterns. I am influenced by eras past such as the Victorian era and the Dutch masters, and enjoy creating uplifting yet calming maximalist art. I have exhibited my art in Canada, Japan, and also at the prestigious New Zealand Portrait Gallery. I live in beautiful Victoria, BC, and am constantly inspired by the Victorian-era architecture and year-round gardens. I feel very honoured to be an artist, to be able to enrich and bring joy to people through my designs. Beauty gives us hope, and with hope we can do anything.

Meet Peacock & Fig
Peacock & Fig is named to reflect my love of vintage art and design, such as the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau eras (which often showcased peacocks). The name also represents teal (peacock) and purple (fig), two colours that have featured heavily in my art and design for the past three decades. I also used to live across the street from a park with wild peacocks in Victoria (as shown by a peacock trying to block the entrance to my building)… 😂
Peacock & Fig started in late 2014 as a hub to learn how to unwind and relax with the moving meditation that is cross stitch and embroidery. That led to designing stitching patterns inspired by vintage florals (and a pinch of sass), and in the past several years I expanded my art and design skills into surface pattern design, illustration, and original oil paintings. No matter the medium or end product, one thing is the same in all my designs — my love of beautiful uplifting colours, being inspired by vintage art but adding in a modern twist, and deeply wanting to inspire others to create beautiful surroundings for themselves.
Artistic Process & Sustainability
Although my designs do not typically feature “military” themes except for one collection of cross stitch patterns, my years in the military do impact me daily in what I create, and how I physically create it. For example, most of my oil paintings are smaller than 12″ square, simply because of physical limitations in painting anything bigger due to the injury. Below are a few photos highlighting my service.
As well, in my art creation I do keep sustainability and environmental concerns in mind. When shipping original art to galleries or customers, I often use recycled boxes and packaging to reduce waste. I also paint in a way that allows me to use basically no solvent in my practice, and to not introduce toxic chemicals into the landfill or water supply. I also often don’t mount or frame art until it’s been sold or is going to an exhibition at a gallery, so that I’m only buying supplies as I actually need them. Any unused stitching or art materials gets donated to local charities or secondhand art supply stores. Art prints, wallpaper, and fabric are not printed until purchased by a customer to reduce waste in over-production, and wasted resources in storage.
Work with Dana
If you’re interested in working with me for design commissions for surface pattern designs or spot illustrations, original oil painting commissions for a special project, or a collaboration with you or your organization, please email me at dana@peacockandfig.com or use the contact form. I’m also available to help pull together interior design projects, whether that’s designing a custom wallpaper design to pull a room together, custom upholstery fabric design, or a series of paintings to reflect a client’s taste. I’d love to help bring your project to life. ❤️
Let’s stay in touch!
