In 1996, as so often happens with young illustrators, there was a turning point in Sophie’s career. Having just graduated from Leeds with a 1st Class honours degree in Graphic Art & Design, specialising in Illustration, Sophie was invited to be a demonstrator at the Country Living Fair painting flowers. She wisely thought that at the fair she really ought to have something to sell to the public, so decided to design 4 greetings cards - they were a great success and sold really well. So that it was in this modest way that her small card business began.

In addition Sophie was asked to join a world renowned illustration agency in London where she worked closely with many famous clients producing illustrations for books, magazines and wine labels – and who said you can’t mix business with pleasure?

Since then Sophie’s designs have been adapted to many other product types and recently new product ranges have been introduced, which include aprons, oven gloves, tea towels, cushions, peg bags, mugs, tea cups & saucers and tea pots. And plans are afoot to increase the range further by the end of the year.

So Sophie designs and illustrates the range, whilst other family members, husband, Mother, Father, brother and brother wife help to work out the rest……which includes selling, distributing, stock control and keeping the tax man happy – so it is a genuine cottage industry – even people in the village help out. There have been over 100 designs for every conceivable occasion and which are sold worldwide in 4 of the 6 continents!

The team has recently been bolstered with the arrival of Jem (brother), he is an accountant (yawn) by trade, but has finally seen the light!……Jem’s experience in the commercial world and Sophie’s painting skills, coupled with everyone’s hard work and determination represents an ideal mix to drive the business forward.

We’re all very excited about the future and hope you are too!