Holy Mackerel have announced a new collaboration to bring you beautiful greetings cards by well-loved artist Ailsa Black. Ailsa’s first range with the team at Holy Mackerel is “Fields and Fathoms” – this range of blank art cards is a feast of colour, and the 42 designs will make a splash of colour in any display with their vibrant mix of coastal and countryside scenery and wildlife. Ailsa’s landscapes are full of the birds and animals that inspire her on her daily walks, and you’ll find Highland Coos, badgers, seals and all walks of country life! Ailsa has a well-established following and this collection should be a real crowd-pleaser. There are more ranges and designs from Ailsa on their way during 2023! Holy Mackerel are now working with 12 fantastic artists and can offer all the cards you need under one roof – from occasions to age birthdays and from contemporary art cards to vintage black and white photographic designs.

Holy Mackerel are delighted to launch a new collaboration with artist Ailsa Black, with their first range of her art cards, “Fields and Fathoms” launching in January 2023.

A bit about Ailsa

Scottish Artist Ailsa Black trained at Gray's School of Art in Aberdeen where she studied Graphic Design and Illustration. Today she works from an airy seaside studio in the tiny Scottish village of Carsethorn in Dumfries and Galloway. From her studio she observes and captures the daily comings and goings of village life and the birds and animals that surround her. From this environment her art embraces simple joys in life, imagined moments of conversational companionship when the world seems quiet, edge into her distinctive, colourful art. This recurring story in her art gives it an accessibility which resonates with the public. Ailsa's partner Alan and Jack, their failed sheep dog, also make regular appearances setting sail on a boat or walking through a village scene.

On a free day you will find her riding her bicycle round the quite roads or tramping miles with her collie dog along the shore or up surrounding hills to quiet places. Here she watches the animals, birds and insects and imagines conversations between them. It is these imagined passing chats which she then shares with you through her colourful and uplifting art, each of which tells a quiet accessible story.

Ailsa has exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute and Paisley Art Institute as well as in galleries across the UK. In 2020 The Independent named her No Ball Games jigsaw with Ravensburger as one of their top ten jigsaws to complete during lockdown. In 2018 her RSPB Year Planner was voted Best UK Charity Calendar in the UK Calendar Awards. In 2017 she was listed as one of 25 top UK influential art brands to watch by a panel of over 200 retailers and business people by Licensing Biz.

Ailsa now works with national and international companies who license her art to sell on their merchandise both at home and abroad. She works with charities like Oxfam and the RSPB who use her art on their merchandise as a tool for fundraising. Her paintings are collected at home and abroad by a growing following of fans. 

A bit about the range

“Fields and Fathoms” launched in January 2023, kicking off with 42 of Ailsa’s vibrant images. It’s all about the countryside and its inhabitants, and you’ll find woodland folk like badgers, hares and foxes and farm friends like sheep, Highland Coos, and of course Ailsa’s signature Belted Galloway cattle (Belties!). Heading over to the coastline you’ll find harbour life, seals, seagulls and even the occasional octopus making a splash!

Blank inside, the cards are 15cm square and come with an envelope, wrapped in a compostable bag. They are beautifully printed, right here in the UK, on a great quality textured board.

With their vibrant colours Ailsa’s designs are a great fit with the other cards in Holy Mackerel’s portfolio – from Erica Sturla’s brilliant polymer clay characters to Seth Draper’s beachcombed artwork and Rosie Brooks’ beautiful little cartoons – a fabulous opportunity to dip into a huge range of styles and occasions under one roof!

A bit about Holy Mackerel

We are a long established family business, set up in 2002 and run by sisters Sarah and Katie. We are based in the wilds of Pembrokeshire, where we have our warehouse and office. We love working with artists across the UK (and beyond) to create beautiful contemporary cards, and we supply card shops, gift shops, galleries and garden centres across the UK as well as overseas. We pride ourselves on the quality of our products and on the speedy despatch of our orders and we love being part of the very friendly UK greetings card industry!

Website: www.holy-mackerel.co.uk

email: sales@holy-mackerel.co.uk

telephone: 01395 578571

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You'll find all of our range on our website at www.holy-mackerel.co.uk, and you can keep up to date with new launches via Instagram and Facebook at HolyMackerelUK. And of course if you would like us to send you a brochure or just to find out more about us please give us a call on 01395 578571 - we look forward to chatting to you!