I love Italy. The food, coffee, architecture, landscapes, daily rituals and the wonderful way colour changes as you travel from one region to another.

Then there is Venice.

Possibly the most unique city on earth, Venice feels slightly unbelievable even when you are standing in the middle of it. There are no ordinary journeys. You travel by boat or walk through a maze of narrow calli, crossing bridges and emerging into squares you had no idea were there.

Every turn seems to reveal another view that demands a photograph.

Venice had to become a Colour Palette.

Six colours inspired by Venice

Choosing six colours for a city with this much history, art and character was never going to be straightforward. Venice changes throughout the day as sunlight moves across the water and old buildings are reflected in the canals.

I wanted the finished palette to celebrate some of its famous sights while capturing the colours and atmosphere I remember from being there.

Gondola Velvet takes its deep red from the plush velvet seating of the city’s gondolas. A gondola ride may be one of Venice’s great visitor experiences, although I am equally happy photographing them from a bridge as they pass beneath.

Burano Neon celebrates the brightly painted houses of Burano. Pink, yellow, blue, orange and green sit side by side along its canals, turning the island into a huge outdoor colour chart.

Rialto White reflects the pale Istrian stone of the Rialto Bridge. It is one of Venice’s most recognisable landmarks and one of those sights that still stops you, however many times you have seen it in photographs.

Canaletto Cielo brings art into the palette. Cielo means sky, and the colour is inspired by the broad expanses of blue above Venice in Canaletto’s paintings. His views helped fix the image of the city in the world’s imagination.

Canal Waters captures the green of the waterways running between Venice’s buildings. Their colour changes constantly with the light, depth, weather and reflections.

Lagoon Blue completes the palette with the deeper blue surrounding Venice and connecting its many islands.

Colourful gifts for Venice lovers

The Venice Colour Palette is available across a collection of Venice gifts including mugs, coasters, magnets and contemporary wall art, available framed or unframed.

They make lovely gifts for Venice lovers, Italian travel enthusiasts and anyone who has recently visited the city. They can celebrate a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday, new home or unforgettable holiday.

I hope the design brings back a little of that feeling of arriving in Venice and seeing the Grand Canal for the first time.

It is extraordinary, slightly chaotic, frequently crowded and completely captivating.

If you have never visited, put it on the list. Take comfortable shoes, leave plenty of time to get lost and keep your camera ready.

Explore our Venice Colour Palette gifts >