Sophie Allport is a small family-run business based in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

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?

Having taken a couple of years out to have children, Sophie decided to unearth her paint brush and in 2007 started painting in her trademark way again.  At the same time she was bolstered with the arrival of Jem (brother).  He is an accountant (yawn) by trade, but finally saw the light!  The theory being that Jem's experience in the commercial world and Sophie's painting skills, coupled with everyone's hard work and determination represent an ideal mix to drive the business forward. 

So Sophie is the artist, Jem is the number cruncher, so whilst Sophie designs and illustrates the range, surrounding family members (plus a couple of others!) help to work out the rest,which includes helping design, keeping the website up to date, 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!

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, along with the fine bone china mugs and jugs. Since starting, the business has expanded and 2008 and 2009 both saw a big change in the product range of the company.  We doubled our fabric designs, extended our fine bone china range, launched our childrens melamine sets and produced some fun tooth fairy pillows, not to mention a new and updated square range of the 'Sequence' cards! (We did say we'd been busy!)

For 2010 we aim to build on the progress made in 2009, by further increasing our current product ranges with some typically British, fun and witty new designs whilst also entering into new product markets. Watch this space (or website) for all the products that we launch throughout the year.  If you'd like to receive regular emails of news, new product offerings or general family banter create an account with us - simply fill in the form on the 'contact us' page of the website.

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