Bright, expressive and full of optimism, these two colours might come from very different places, but they share something fundamental: a spirit of creativity and artistic freedom.

Frida Blue takes its name from the extraordinary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and the vivid blue walls of her home, Casa Azul, in Mexico City. Firle, meanwhile, takes its name from the Sussex village where artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant made their home at Charleston, transforming the house into a living work of art.

“Frida Kahlo and the artists of Bloomsbury weren’t afraid to express themselves through colour. They made their homes part of their art. That sense of freedom is something I really wanted to celebrate with these two colours.” Annie Sloan

Two artists. Two different continents. Two very different approaches to colour. But a shared belief that art and colour should be lived with, enjoyed and experienced every day.

“For 2027, I wanted to choose colours that make you feel good. Frida Blue and Firle are bright, optimistic and full of energy. They’re colours that make you want to pick up a paintbrush and do something!” Annie Sloan

Frida Blue: Bold and Brilliant

Inspired by Frida Kahlo and her famous Casa Azul, Frida is a colour that’s full of energy. Frida Kahlo’s home was both her sanctuary and a place of creativity, filled with colour, art, plants and objects that reflected her distinctive visual world.

Frida Blue brings some of that spirit into our own homes. It is a colour that encourages confidence and self-expression – whether you use it to transform a single piece of furniture or make a much bigger statement.

It is particularly beautiful with other joyful colours from the Chalk Paint palette. Pair it with Capri Pink or Emperor’s Silk for an exuberant, colour-loving scheme, or combine it with English Yellow for something sunny and optimistic. For a botanical feel, try Frida Blue with Firle or Antoinette.

And if you prefer your colour a little more restrained, Frida Blue looks wonderful against neutrals such as Old White, Original, French Linen or Country Grey.

“Frida Blue is a colour with attitude! It’s bright, joyful and full of life. You can’t really ignore it – and why would you want to?” Annie Sloan

Firle: The colour of creative freedom

Fresh, verdant and full of life, Firle is a joyful green inspired by the landscape and artistic heritage of Firle, the village in East Sussex where Charleston Farmhouse became the country home of artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Members of the Bloomsbury Group, they rejected many of the conventions of their time and approached art, design and everyday life with an extraordinary sense of freedom.

At Charleston, walls, doors, fireplaces and furniture were painted and decorated, turning the house itself into a work of art.

Fresh and optimistic, Firle brings the feeling of the outdoors inside and works particularly beautifully alongside other colours inspired by nature. Pair it with Aubusson Blue for a sophisticated botanical combination, English Yellow for a burst of sunshine or Barcelona Orange for something warm and exuberant.

For a richer, more dramatic look, try Firle with Burgundy or Graphite. Or allow it to breathe by combining it with Old White or Pure.

“Firle is such a happy green. It’s fresh and zingy, but it has enough depth to work beautifully on furniture. I love greens because they bring a little bit of the outside in.” Annie Sloan

Frida Blue + Firle

Frida Blue and Firle each have their own story but they are both fresh, optimistic colours connected to the natural world. Frida Blue brings the energy of a brilliant blue sky, while Firle has the freshness of leaves, grass and new growth.

The Colours of Artistic Freedom

Colour has always been at the heart of Annie’s work and she invented Chalk Paint to make  painting furniture accessible. Like Frida Kahlo and the Bloomsbury artists, Annie believes art doesn’t have to be confined to a gallery. It can be on a wall, a piece of furniture, a pot, a chair, an old door.