Meet Atwater Designs

Sarah Bourne Rafferty is the artist behind Atwater Designs, where she creates one-of-a-kind cyanotype prints inspired by the quiet beauty of the natural world. With a background in fine art and decades of experience as both an artist and educator, Sarah's work celebrates the fleeting moments found in nature and transforms them into timeless pieces for the home.

Since 2005, Sarah has been passionate about sharing the artistic process with others. She spent many years teaching both darkroom and digital photography at Agnes Irwin School on Philadelphia's Main Line, inspiring students until 2020. Today, she continues that passion through workshops and by inviting others to discover the magic of cyanotype printing.

Cyanotype is one of the earliest photographic printing processes, first developed in 1842 by Sir John Herschel. Best known for its signature deep blue color, the process uses a light-sensitive solution that reacts to ultraviolet light to create striking botanical impressions. Each print begins with hand-coated paper and carefully arranged natural specimens before being exposed to the sun, allowing nature itself to become part of the creative process.

For Sarah, every piece starts long before it reaches the paper. She spends countless hours walking, observing, and collecting inspiration from the shapes and silhouettes of plants. Once in the studio, those gathered botanicals are thoughtfully arranged and exposed to sunlight, capturing not only the form of each specimen but also the unique conditions of that particular day—the movement of the wind, the passing of clouds, and the warmth of the sun.

No two cyanotypes are ever exactly alike. Each print is a visual poem as a preserved moment in time that brings the wonder of the natural world indoors and serves as a gentle reminder to slow down, look closely, and appreciate nature's quiet beauty.