iMy sister-in-law Stephanie Rawkins, who has died aged 74, was a multitalented artist and designer. In 1967 she and her husband, Keith, founded the textile business Stefan Keef, which later became Marina Mill, supplying bespoke fabrics for fashion and interior designers.
Steph was born in Dartford, Kent, the younger daughter of Harold and Irene Hicks, and went to Gravesend grammar school. She met Keith Rawkins, my brother, when they both started at Bromley Art College in 1959 – she was 16, he was 17. After they graduated, they settled in south-east London and when they married in 1964, Steph made her wedding dress, Keith’s suit and the bridesmaids’ dresses out of their own printed fabric.
She did further studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Keith taught for a year, but London was swinging, and they decided they would like to be fashion designers. They started printing T-shirts on the kitchen table, for sale in Carnaby Street boutiques.
While raising two children, Guy and Tandine, they gradually built a name for themselves with a business specialising in designing and producing exclusive furnishing fabrics. Steph would work through the night, sewing, hand painting and working on designs. In the 1970s, they were commissioned to produce the fabrics for George Harrison’s mansion, Friar Park, in Henley-on-Thames and were soon supplying the London department stores Liberty, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
Steph and I were great buddies and our families had many happy holidays together, with Steph always off, sketchbook in hand, to draw everything we saw. Her designs were inspired by her love of nature and she could capture the essence of a bee busy on a flower or a waterfall tumbling over the rocks with exquisite detail. Her lovely drawings were transferred with great skill on to screens, then printed onto wonderful silks.
In the 80s, Steph and Keith were able to open their own factory. In the following decade they moved it to a former Victorian mill on the banks of the Medway, under the name Marina Mill, and were joined in the business by Guy and Tandine, who continue to run it today, now also designing and developing woven fabrics.
Steph and Keith made a great team, their individual skills complementing one another’s to perfection. Together, they turned a bramble-covered plot in Kent into a unique family home and garden, where they loved entertaining their numerous friends, many of whom dated back to their art college days.
In her 40s, Steph had an operation to remove a tumour from her pituitary gland, and she later faced further health problems. More recently, she had dementia and was helped by the love and attention of her family.
Steph is survived by Keith, Guy and Tandine.
