“I’m inspired by my environment”

Watch one of Annie Sloan’s many online tutorials, as she upcycles a piece of furniture with a few swift strokes of her globally renowned Chalk Paint, and it’s easy to see how she now has a worldwide following and huge business success to match. Her unfazed manner, as she turns something fit for the tip into a pride-of-place piece, is infectious and inspires the most novice of upcyclers to get stuck in.

And, unsurprisingly, her talent has also caught the eye of a few famous names including Kate Middleton and the queen of craft herself, Kirstie Allsopp. Suffice to say, her name is fast becoming the most synonymous with upcycling.

We caught up with Annie, whose growing empire began with her small Oxford store, and found her passion for upcycling left us wanting to don a smock