EVERYBODY loves a fairy tale. The magic of being transported to a world where good always triumphs over evil, love conquers all and a handsome prince is waiting to sweep you off your feet will never grow old.

And it’s this timeless appeal that has inspired many artists, musicians and writers over the years, including designer William Morris, who translated the romanticism of the stories into his work more than a century ago.

In turn, taking their inspiration from Morris’ ceramic tiles which reference Sleeping Beauty, a trio of artists, Dominique Golden, Louise Clarke and Zoe Hodgson present their interpretations of the classic fables in a new multi-media exhibition at the William Morris Gallery.

Speaking about the exhibition, Dominique, who has been working with the other two since they met at the Royal College of Art ten years ago, tells me: “I think William Morris was attracted to the romanticism of fairy tales. He was trying to bring that aesthetic into people’s homes through his tiles, almost brightening up the industrial revolution by bringing fantasy into reality.

“While Morris was more concerned with beauty, my research involved the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and telling the darker side which is why I particularly liked the misfired tiles in the collection because it’s as if they have been slightly disrupted and didn’t come out as planned. The effect is really beautiful.”

For the exhibition, Dominique presents a collection of drawings, prints and paintings, a short animation and two embroideries.

“My work features women cutting down branches, which references the suitors who hacked down the forest while trying to get to Sleeping Beauty,” the Walthamstow-based artist explains.

Dominique’s fellow artists have concentrated more on the landscapes of fairy tales, with Louise creating an installation of lightboxes around the fireplace and Zoe displaying dark and atmospheric aquatint etchings.

With fairy tales a common theme of the trio’s work, I wonder what the personal appeal is for Dominque?

“I think it’s the fact that they are simplistic,” she adds, “but then they do delve into the subconscious on a sort of Freudian level and they have a rawness to them.”

Sleeping Alice and the Beast runs at the William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, until Sunday, March 7. Details: 020 8496 4390 or visit www.walthamforest.gov.uk/william-morris