Against plaster, the soft pink reads less sweet, more deliberate. Five sardines line up across a brushy pink and turquoise ground, painted loose and quick.

It brings a bit of personality into a tidy room without shouting. The colour is unusual enough to feel considered, the subject is light enough to keep things cheerful.

Works best in a kitchen, dining room or breakfast nook, above a sideboard, console or shelf where people actually look. Good in narrow walls between cabinets and windows too.

Pair with pale oak, painted timber, soft linen, stoneware in cream or blush, and a bit of brass or chrome. Open shelving with everyday ceramics suits it well.

Don’t crowd it with other busy patterns. One quiet textile and clean cabinetry let the colour do its job. Stretched on a wooden frame and ready to hang.