Illustrator's royal greeting cards go global - The Stratford Observer

Illustrator's royal greeting cards go global

Stratford Editorial 18th May, 2022   0

A YEAR after her drawing of Captain Sir Tom Moore went viral, being shared over 500,000 times on social media, Stratford illustrator Naomi Hands-Smith’s Royal collection of greetings cards inspired by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are selling all over the world.

Naomi’s designs are part of her River Swan of Avon design brand, which she set up following the exposure social media gave to her drawing of fundraising ‘royalty’ Captain Tom following his death in February last year.

And since the Jubilee year began the cards and prints have been capturing the interest of customers in America and Australia, as well as on mainland Europe and across the UK.

Naomi said: “The Queen, just like Captain Tom, has been a great inspiration to many people and I’ve loved drawing her.




“The Queen has a loyal following all over the world and its a real delight that those looking for a memento of her special year have chosen mine. I’ve had some really lovely feedback and it’s been amazing to find out that some of my customers have bought one of my cards to send to the Queen herself, I hope she thinks they’re up to scratch!”

Naomi initially began selling her illustrations on online marketplace Etsy.


After getting business start-up support and mentoring from Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub she is now also trading at markets and other special events around the Midlands.

She has a pop-up shop until June 5 at The Curated Store in Stow-on-the-Wold, which showcases different independent businesses selling fashion and lifestyle products, and gifts each month.

The Royal Collection and the other cards and prints from the River Swan of Avon brand will also be on sale at Coombe Abbey Hotel and Country Park’s new Artisan Market on the second Saturday of every month, Solihull’s Jubilee Market on June 4, Ilmington’s Jubilee Picnic on June 5, and at The Farm in Stratford on June 11.

Visit www.riverswanofavon.com for further details.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Stratford Observer.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Printing

We can provide all of your printing needs at competitive rates.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Stratford Observer newspaper.