Ten of the best for The London Studio Artists Collective at the 2024 Henries!

Art licensing and design company The London Studio announces that no fewer than six publishers whose art it promotes through its licensing and mentoring service The London Studio Artists Collective, have been shortlisted as finalists in ten categories at the Henries Awards, the ultimate accolades in greeting card publishing.

This marks a record-breaking year of award accolades for The London Studio and its community of artists and publisher partners. They received a whopping 23 preliminary shortlist nominations (up from 18 nominations last year), of which six artists are now finalists across ten categories.

The winners will be announced on Thursday 3 October 2023 at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.

The six publishers, all of which got through the exacting two-stage judging process to find themselves among the finalists are:

Best Photographic Range: Jesuso Ortiz from Woodmansterne Publications

Best Diversity and Inclusion Range: Queer Cards from Pickled Prints

Best Christmas Counter Range: Cosy Christmas from Ricicle Cards and Merry + Bright from Stormy Knight

Best Art Range: Toast Art from Objectables

Best Contemporary Trend Range: Shiny Things from Stormy Knight

Best Male Range (non-humour): Great Outdoors from Stormy Knight

Best Relations and/or Occasions Range: Holly Maguire from Stormy Knight

Best Spring Seasons Range: Shiny Valentine from Stormy Knight and Tokens of Appreciation Mother’s Day from Two for Joy Illustration

All these artists are currently enjoying success at retail, in particular Jesuso Ortiz, who the London Studio has licensed directly to Woodmansterne. Woodmansterne estate manages and supplies the greeting card product and displays for principle retailers John Lewis, Waitrose and over 300 garden centres, at which Jesuso Ortiz’s distinctive and highly original designs have enjoyed enormous success.

Another nominee, Two for Joy – aka Louise Richardson – was recently licensed by to OtterHouse for her Gift of the Year Awards-nominated Bookish range. Louise was a Gift of the Year award winner in 2022. In addition Objectables won an award at the 2024 Retas, the UK’s only greeting card retail awards.

The London Studio Artists Collective was formed last year to bring together, collaborate with, mentor and promote exciting independent artists and creators hand-picked by the London Studio, a service that has been further boosted by this success at the Henries.

The Henries Awards are the ultimate accolades in greeting card publishing. Named after Sir Henry Cole (who introduced the first commercially produced Christmas card in 1843), The Henries were introduced by Progressive Greetings Worldwide magazine in 1996 as annual awards to shine the spotlight on greeting card ranges. Each year some 14,000 cards are entered for the two-stage judging process and, with finalists aplenty, the London Studio has had another great year.

Founder and Director of The London Studio, Soula Zavacopoulos, says: “We have great relationships with some of the most talented people in the greeting card and design industries and we knew that many of our partners would make another strong showing at these awards. It’s another big success for them and the work we have done together via The London Studio Artists Collective. Congratulations to everyone; we’re delighted you’ve done so well. See you on the big night!”

Awareness of The London Studio and its work is growing fast. Its success in greeting cards and gifts extends to a fast-growing list of international retailers and licensed publishers. It has also launched a number of specially created lifestyle brands appropriate for apparel, gifts, homeware, stationery and more.