The London Studio and Two For Joy

Two For Joy Illustration, an independent publisher of distinctive greetings cards that is represented by art licensing and design company The London Studio, has been licensed by Otter House to produce an exclusive capsule collection of greeting cards.

The collection will be based on Two For Joy Illustration’s Bookish range of luxury greetings cards. Inspired by the beauty of classic book covers, each Bookish card is intricately designed with hand-drawn typography and illustration and has a beautiful coloured inside print, matching the design.

Two For Joy Illustration is the brainchild of Louise Richardson, who runs her business from her little studio in Suffolk. Louise is a digital illustrator whose style is notable for beautiful, playful illustrations, paired with hand-drawn typography. To date she has produced over 200 greeting card designs.

And her work has been recognised – more than once – by one of the gifting industry’s most important award programmes. Her Merry and Bright DIY Crafty Advent Calendar won in the Festive & Occasions category at the 2022 Gift of the Year awards, the highly respected industry accolades overseen by the Giftware Association and Max Publishing. In 2024 her Bookish range – which has inspired the Otter House collection – was a finalist in the same awards in the Cards and Wrap category.

Louise is represented for licensing by The London Studio, a creative hub that develops its own brands, supports and licenses art and artists in the UK and US, and finalised the Bookish agreement with Otter House.

In fact this isn’t the only London Studio collaboration with Otter House. The London Studio has also licensed a card for the Dog’s Trust charity designed by Rocket68 founder and artist Jill White, an award-winning illustrator and designer. In addition, its in-house brand, Dreamadelic, which combines the dreamlike imagery of the 1960s and 1970s with the flair and wit of the 2020s, has inspired a calendar collaboration with Carousel Calendars, a sister company to Otter House.

Otter House was founded in 1991 in the South West of England. From its early days buying and selling greetings cards, it moved into calendars and gift products while working in partnership with many of the UK’s best visual artists and designers. Business has grown through a number of card company acquisitions and mergers and a move into licensed branded gift and stationery collections. Otter House also has a successful charity fulfilment and mail order division.

Louise Richardson, the founder of Two For Joy Illustration, says: “It’s been a great year for my little studio in Suffolk, with first an award nomination and now an exclusive collection of cards with one of the UK’s best-known names in greetings cards, gifts and stationery. My thanks to Otter House and The London Studio for their support and appreciation.”

Andrea Swingler, Art Director, Otter House, says: “The Bookish Collection is as delightful as the classic book covers that inspire it and a wonderful addition to our diverse and popular card ranges. We are delighted to be working with Two For Joy Illustration on what I am sure will be a popular and successful collection.”

Founder and director of The London Studio Soula Zavacopoulos says: “Louise’s distinctive and playful style was very appealing to the London Studio, which loves to support great ideas and innovative design. Her Bookish Collection is both stylish and original – perfect for Otter House.”