By Alllison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
The London Studio has secured a licensing deal with the James Ellis publishing company for artist and illustrator, Alice Mole.
Managed by The London Studio, the James Ellis licensing partnership has commissioned 29 square-format greeting card designs by the acclaimed artist.
Inspired by everyday life with surrealistic accents, the Alice Mole card collection will launch through the James Ellis website, independent UK stores, multinational retailers and global distribution companies later this summer.
The stationery and publishing company is already planning to expand the new collection with additional designs that commemorate more celebratory milestones.
“When we first saw Alice Mole’s work, we knew we were onto something special,” said James Ellis founder, James Ellis Stevens. “Her aim is to brighten up your day, but in a way that is, distinctively and memorably, very much her own. This colorful, unique and engaging new card collection is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of outstanding art from talented and original artists and it’s been a joy working with Alice and with Soula at The London Studio,” added Stevens. “We’re sure the new collection will be a big hit with James Ellis customers across the UK and beyond.”
A member of the London Studio’s Artists Collective, Alice Mole specializes in creating colorful and quirky drawings and paintings with relatable messages and distinctive designs.
“The Artists Collective engages with artists in a way that helps them highlight their work to potential partners that appreciate their values and style,” said Alice Mole. “It’s certainly been a great support in bringing me together with James and his team. James is an ideal partner, whose company has great reach, who supports interesting and talented artists, who cares about the environment, and, most importantly, who chuckled more than a little at my portfolio.”
Founded in 1990, James Ellis offers a selection of licensed products across print, framing, stationery, greeting cards, publishing and more.
The company focuses on offering high-quality paper products that feature designs from a selection of talented independent artists.
The company has implemented numerous environmentally-friendly business practices since its initial debut.
These practices include eliminating single-use plastics from its products and packaging, running its studio on green energy, donating spare materials to reuse charities and printing on board from sustainably-sourced wood pulp wherever possible.
In addition, James Ellis donates 1% of its turnover to environmental causes through the charitable organization, 1% for the Planet.
“James Ellis is a company with a distinctive approach, an exceptional reputation, and a strong portfolio of talented artists – a perfect match for Alice Mole and her witty, instantly identifiable art,” said The London Studio founder, Soula Zavacopoulos. “The London Studio’s Artists Collective is securing growing interest from the greetings card and licensing trades, and I’m thrilled that we’ve helped Alice’s work to finding an even larger audience through this partnership. I have so much respect for the work James Ellis does, both in terms of supporting independent artists and giving 1% of its turnover to environmental causes,” added Zavacopoulos. “It’s a pleasure to work with James Ellis on this phenomenal new range!”
Based in the UK, The London Studio is an independent design house and artist representation company that develops branded lifestyle products through licensing collaborations.
In 2023 it formed the London Studio Artists Collective, a community that brings together, promotes and collaborates with a global network of independent artists.
Image Credit: Alice Mole x James Ellis from The London Studio.
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