Having been born, raised and still working as a designer in the city of Brighton, the seaside is firmly engrained in my being. I have a distinct fondness for the eternal optimism that comes from eating ice cream on the beach in minus degrees, the seagulls, the sea mist that rolls up the beach from nowhere turning whatever Summer we had to Winter once more and the often faded graphics that adorn the arches of Brighton – and elsewhere around the British coast.

These seaside graphics are often vintage in feel, even if they are relatively new – with blues, reds and whites featuring heavily. Chequered patterns are there too – just like those tablecloths in those gems of seaside cafes that you can still find if you’re lucky.

Ah, yes. The seaside – with all the tack and faded, worn graphics is a place of true Britishness and a constant source of inspiration for designers of all foundations.

But these beautiful plates and mugs by London studio Home Slice Design are just perfect. They are solid versions of the Fish and Chip bags we used to eat from as teenagers, sitting on the beach after a night out in Brighton.

Slightly odd representations of fish, strange phrases, dancing salt and vinegar pots – it is all there. The very distinctive blue of the paper bags is there too, along with the puns that were scrawled along the bags and chippy interiors.

The illustrations are just wonderful and incredibly characterful also. Whoever first thought that fish had lips had a strange view on the aquatic world, but the thick, often red lipped fish is one I particularly remember with a chuckle.

The mugs also have the same thick lipped fish sitting quite happily on a plate of chips, along with that distinctive chequered cloths.

I know they say that fish and chips always tastes better out of the paper, but I reckon that fish and chips and a cup of strong tea would be perfect with these.

(images via Home Slice Design)