Press Releases
January 12
Exclusive Ann Edwards Art mug range launched by Muglamania Ltd
Successful artist Ann Edwards is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new range of fine bone china mugs produced and sold exclusively by Warwickshire based company ‘Muglamania Ltd’.
Muglamania Ltd (www.muglamania.com) trade predominantly online, shipping throughout Europe and beyond. They pride themselves on offering the widest range of fine bone china, personalised and photo mugs available on the internet. Each mug has been carefully chosen using a wide range of leading artists and designers with a range to suit every taste from contemporary to classic, animal to floral.
The new Ann Edwards range has 24 different designs. Ten mugs feature Ann’s ever popular cat character ‘Thomas’ in a variety of different guises including ‘Glamour Puss’, ‘City fat cat’ and ‘Angel cat’ plus two special Christmas mugs featuring cats and dogs in various festive poses.
In addition, Ann is delighted to produce a further 12 mugs incorporating ‘Chef and Sue’ her hugely admired dog and cat combo who appear in their own weekly cartoon serialisation within the ‘Waitrose’ weekend publication. The popularity of Chef and Sue has soared over the last two years, so much so that they now even have their own facebook page! (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chef-and-Sue/202784359737777)
As Ann says “Chef and Sue have really taken off recently, and we have been inundated with requests by fans keen to buy products bearing the illustrations. This is the first time that we have produced any so we are sure that they will prove to be popular.”
The range is available to buy from the Muglamania website and also directly from the shop facility at www.annedwardsart.co.uk
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 11
New Ann Edwards Art e-commerce website launched
Successful artist and illustrator Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new e-commerce website which will be selling a limited number of original artworks, unavailable to purchase anyway else either online or in the shops.
Fans of Ann’s work will be familiar with her humorous illustrations of cats and dogs which feature in a vast range of products including stationery, kitchen and tableware. Now collectors will have the opportunity to buy their very own original monotype (ink and watercolour paintings on paper) featuring various dog characters and the ever-popular ‘Thomas the Cat’.
Several of the cat illustrations available feature in the 2012 ‘Cool for cats’ calendar currently available for purchase from WH Smiths, or have appeared in previous issues, whilst the ‘Clever dog’ artwork is used in a range of pet products due to be launched in Spring 2012.
Fans of the popular ‘Chef and Sue’ characters who feature in their own weekly strip serialised in the Waitrose Weekend magazine will also be delighted at the chance to purchase one of the ten original strips also for sale on the site.
Ann says “We are regularly receiving requests from fans who are keen to purchase originals, particularly with the growing popularity of ‘Chef and Sue’, so we are delighted to be able to offer them this chance.”
The new site is now live at www.annedwardsboutique.co.uk or by following the link at the regular existing website address www.annedwardsart.co.uk
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
September 11
Ann Edwards Art ‘Looking for Love’ range to be extended to further branches
Ahead of her upcoming participation at the Brand Licensing Europe exhibition in London, between the 18th and 20th October, successful artist Ann Edwards is pleased to announce that her ‘Looking for Love’ art property designed for the Blue Cross animal charity is going from strength to strength.
The property which features on a range of cards, which includes 36 different designs featuring various needy animals including cats, dogs, rodents and horses are sold exclusively at branches of The Blue Cross (www.bluecross.org.uk) charity shops throughout the UK. At present the cards are available at twelve different branches, but due to overwhelming demand The Blue Cross will now be extending sales to a further fifteen stores within the next couple of months. A percentage of the sale of each card goes directly to the animal charity.
Ann said of the development:
‘We are delighted that the card range has proved so successful for The Blue Cross and we are thrilled that they will be extending sales across their entire list of branches, enabling us to contribute in a small way towards the fantastic work that they do with sick and vulnerable animals. We aim to raise £30,000 a year for the Blue Cross from this venture.’
In addition ‘Looking for Love’ is in development with James and Steel Ltd on a range of pet accessories, feeding bowls, treat jars, feeding mats and toys, with a launch date of Spring 2012.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
July 11
New Ann Edwards Art ‘Farm Yard’ range launched by Tradestock Ltd
Successful artist Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of a new range of trays, coasters and glass work-top savers by Somerset based company ‘Tradestock Ltd’.
Tradestock Ltd (http://www.tradestockltd.co.uk) have been established for over 25 years and produce an exciting range of design led homeware and tabletop products for retailers in the UK , Ireland and Europe.
The new ‘Farm Yard’ range was launched in early June at the ‘Exclusively Housewares’ show which celebrated it’s tenth anniversary at the Business Design centre in London.
Keith Nye, Managing Director of Tradestock Ltd said of the deal:
‘We are delighted to have launched a range with Ann Edwards Art, and the initial feed back we received at the trade show was very positive’
The range will be available to purchase from September 2011.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
June 11
Ann Edwards Art goes French!
Over the last year or two, successful British artist Ann Edwards has seen an increasing amount of interest in her designs from mainland Europe and in particular has seen a vast increase in the number of French customers purchasing products from her cat and dog themed homeware ranges.
Seizing upon this opportunity to expand her empire, and bowing to frequent requests by French customers, Ann has recently launched a French version of her website at www.annedwardsart.com
Ann has been assisted in this endeavour by French business student Elsa Provenzale who has been on a work placement at the Oxfordshire head quarters of Ann Edwards Art for the last few months. In addition to the French version of the website, Elsa has also been able to establish a French fan page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Chef.et.Sue?) for Ann’s popular cartoon strip ‘Chef and Sue’ which currently is published exclusively in the weekly ‘Waitrose Weekend’ publication.
Ann says of the development:
'We are really excited to have been able to launch a French version of the website and hope that our French fans will be excited too!’
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
June 11
Ann Edwards scores huge successes at Surtex 2011
Artist Ann Edwards, has recently returned from an enormously successful trip to the Surtex trade show in New York, where she exhibited her popular cat and dog ranges alongside nearly 300 other exhibitors from all across the world.
The show resulted in Ann gaining over 30 leads for potential new licensing agreements from companies from as far afield as Finland, France, the US, the UK and Canada. She is currently in discussion with companies who are interested in licensing her designs on a wide range of products including T-shirts, ceramics, calendars, textiles, animated e-cards and crafting/patchwork goods.
In addition to the many contacts which Ann made, she was also delighted to forge a licensing deal with ‘Certified International’ an American corporation based in New York with show-rooms throughout the United States. ‘Certified International’ are a leading producer and distributor of table and serve ware producing crockery, trays, ceramic storage jars and pet dishes. To capitalise on the current enthusiasm in the States for all things British, the company will be licensed to produce and distribute a range of cat themed cookie jars, inspired by the recent Royal Wedding, to be known as ‘Prince’ and ‘Princess’ which will incorporate designs from Ann’s ‘Best of British’ range.
Ann says of the deal:
‘I was thrilled to have such a successful trip, and am very excited about the new range which Certified International will be bringing out.’
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
May 11
Ann Edwards commissioned to design Buddhist Wesak greeting card
Artist Ann Edwards, more usually known for her humorous cat and dog illustrations, has recently had the honour of creating a Wesak Card for Reading Buddhist Priory to send out to its 200 Sangha group members. Wesak is the celebration of the Buddha’s birth and this year falls on Tuesday 17th May, the 15th day in the 4th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The artwork used for the front piece of the card features an image of the Buddha from the Priory made by artist Terry Wright as a wood block print, which has then been hand-coloured by Ann. At the request of Reverand Alina, a Buddhist monk at the Priory, the inside greeting reads ‘Wishing you joy and peace on the occasion of the festival of the Buddha’s birth and a very happy Buddhist new year.’
Ann says of the work:
‘I’ve made some unusual personalised cards in my time, ‘From the dog on your birthday’ and that sort of thing, but this was such a lovely and unusual commission and we all felt a little more spiritual for helping to celebrate the Buddha’s birth. Happy Wesak to you all!’
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
May 11
New Ann Edwards e-commerce website to launch early May
Successful artist and illustrator Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of the company’s brand new e-commerce website, developed using the unique Amazon Webstore platform. Ann Edwards Art is delighted to have been selected by Amazon to redevelop their site alongside other well known online merchants such as Motorola, Timex, Samsonite and Martha Stewart.
CEO and Artist Ann Edwards said:
“We are really excited with the look and feel of the new site and are sure that it will enhance the shopping experience for our valued customers.”
Fans of Ann’s work will be familiar with her humorous illustrations of cats and dogs which feature in a vast range of products including stationery, kitchen and tableware and in particular with the ever-popular Thomas the cat, now a global licensing star, who appears in various ranges including ‘Domestic Goddess’, ‘I’ll diet tomorrow’, ‘British Cats’ and ‘Master Chef’. Regular customers will also notice the introduction of many new products, taking the total number now available to purchase to over eighty!
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 11
New ‘Glamour puss’ range to launch in July
Popular artist Ann Edwards is releasing a new range of 10 cosmetic and make up bags, mirrors and manicure sets in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging in price from £10. The bags will feature a variety of designs including the ever popular ‘Thomas’ the cat in his new ‘Glamour puss’ incarnation.
Thomas already features in a series of successful brands including ‘Best of British’ where he is dressed as a variety of British-themed icons, such as a Beefeater and a policeman ‘Countryside Cats’ where he is pictured in different locations around the UK; and ‘Domestic Goddess’ his kitchen-themed collection. His image appears on a variety of products including stationery, tableware, mugs and aprons, and will now be complimented by the addition of the cosmetic range.
‘Danielle’, the company which Ann has licensed the new ‘Glamour puss’ range to will be selling the cosmetic products throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and North America. The deal came about as a direct result of Ann exhibiting at Brand Licensing Europe 2010 and says Ann “It is very positive for us to have a deal in place before exhibiting at Surtex in May and we are very excited about the launch in July.”
Fans of Ann’s work might recognise ‘Glamour puss’ as he also featured on the front cover of the ‘Cool for Cats’ 2011 calendar sold in the UK exclusively at high street giant WH Smith. The calendar proved such a success that all stock was sold out by November 2010!
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 11
Chef and Sue to take Facebook by storm!
Due to the huge popularity of the ‘Chef and Sue’ comic strip, which runs exclusively in the Waitrose Weekend publication, the artist Ann Edwards and her team have recently set up a fan page for Chef and Sue aficionados on Facebook.
The characters are based on real life pets, Tilly the dog and Fizzog the cat who belong to friends of Ann in the Oxfordshire village of Blewbury where they all live. The two mice also featured are named Edwards and Platt and are inspired by Ann's husband and his business partner. According to Ann any resemblance to friends and family and any offence caused is completely deliberate and serves you right for annoying her!
Visitors to the fan page (www.facebook.com/pages/Chef-and-Sue/202784359737777) can view the entire back catalogue of strips and also read and view pictures of the real life muses and of Ann herself. In addition, fans can sign up to receive each new strip via email as it goes to press. There is also a link to the Ann Edwards fan page where you can see Ann’s other work and products which are available to purchase. At present the Chef and Sue page has only received 3 ‘Likes’, probably because no-one knows it exists, so lets try and get them into double figures before Easter!!
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
December 2010
Princess makes her Spring Fair debut
She’s very pretty with a cute face and a soft grey coat – and she’s making her debut on the world stage at Spring Fair.
Princess is the first new property from artist and giftware guru Ann Edwards for more than four years and she’s being launched as the little sister to Ann’s ever-popular cat Thomas, who has become a global licensing star.
The move is in demand to requests from licensees who wanted a property aimed at the younger female market.
Ann explains: “Thomas has been a huge success as an adult licensed character for women, particularly in giftware, tableware and accessories, but we wanted to find a new property which would appeal to young girls and Princess fits the bill perfectly.
“She’s a very girly-girl and she loves dressing up as every young girl’s dream – so characters will include Princess Ballerina, Princess Pop Star and a Princess Horse-rider – and we will be having lots of fun with her.”
Ann plans to launch Princess into giftware, publishing and plush, as well as fashion accessories and says initial talks with buyers are already encouraging.
“It’s still early days, but we’re in discussion with a major global calendar manufacturer who is very interested, there’s also a proposal on the table for Princess to go into the Far East and we’re also looking at a range of children’s books for the European market,” said Ann.
“Spring Fair will be the first chance for most potential licensees to see Princess and, as we’ll be displaying her alongside new lines featuring Thomas, we expect to have a really good show.”
Thomas’ success has been built on a successful platform of character ranges, including Best of British – where he is dressed as a variety of British-themed icons, such as a Beefeater and a policeman; Countryside Cats, where he is pictured in different locations around the UK; and Domestic Goddess, his kitchen-themed collection.
Ann recently returned from a highly-successful trip to Japan, where she exhibited at the prestigious British Fair in Osaka and, as a result, has now been asked to design an exclusive range of products to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit for a chain of department stores in Korea.
She is now in talks with a major pet accessory manufacturer to develop a new range of canine characters for the High Street and is also working on a project with the Blue Cross.
After Spring Fair, she heads Stateside to the Surtex art licensing trade show in New York in May.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 2010
ARTIST PROFILE FOR 'The world of cross stitiching' magazine
Thomas – the picture purr-fect star, a real life muse.
They say that cats choose people, not the other way around and when an unwanted stray cuddled up to Gracie, daughter of Oxfordshire artist Ann Edwards, it was love at first sight.
It was a smart move for Thomas – as he is now known – and one that has not only seen him grow into a star of Ann’s paintings and greetings cards, but also become famous in Japan.
Her fabulous drawings have Thomas looking pretty in pink, embracing flower power and, in his latest incarnation, as a James Bond-lookalike. Meeting Thomas, it’s easy to see where Ann gets her ideas.
“Thomas is such a character that he’s been my real inspiration . My muse if you’ll forgive the pun,” she said
“He had an unlucky start in life and we used to see him wandering as a stray around our village. Then he was taken in by one of our neighbours, but her own cats kept beating him up. We went to visit and he just sat on Gracie’s knee blinking at her and the next thing, we had a new cat.”
Animals have always been a major love of Ann’s life and in addition to Thomas she has two dogs – Gnipper and Bella – and a parrot called Jasper, all of whom regularly feature alongside Thomas.
Describing her style as monotype, Ann has been painting and exhibiting since 1994, and her work has been on show at galleries across the UK, but it was after launching Ann Edwards Art in 2004, that her work has become more widely known.
Her studio is based at her home in the Oxfordshire village of Blewbury and she says she owes much of her artistic flair to family genes – her mother was a dancer and contortionist with a travelling circus!
One of Ann’s biggest audiences is in Japan, and she recently returned from her third highly successful signing trip there where she was mobbed by Japanese art collectors who fell in love with Thomas and his friends.
“The response was tremendous, the Japanese just absolutely love Thomas. They call him Thomas nikochan and kiss and stroke his picture” said Ann.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 2010
Thomas Nikochan is a hit in Japan
Thomas, the stray cat who struck lucky when he turned up on the doorstep of Oxfordshire artist Ann Edwards, has become a major star in Japan.
Cartoon-style pictures of the handsome black and white moggy in a variety of poses stole the show at the prestigious British Fair in Osaka and earned him the official new title of Thomas Nikochan – or pussycat in Japanese.
The theme of this year’s event was the Cotswolds and Ann unveiled her new Cotswolds Cats collection, which shows Thomas exploring the English countryside and enjoying a traditional cream tea, on a product range that includes shirts, mugs, pen sets and stationery sets.
“It was amazing, everyone wanted a piece from Thomas’ giftware range and there were crowds queuing at the stand wanting me to sign everything from tea towels to T-shirts,” said Ann. “The Japanese love to collect English homewares, one couple travelled overnight for 10 hours just to come and see us, and we’re thrilled that Thomas is now such a VIP.”
The British Fair, now in its 43rd year and held at Hankyu Corporation’s department store in the centre of Osaka, attracted up to a million visitors. Other exhibitors included Huffkins, the Cotswold Bakers and Tea Shops, and The Pudding Club.
Just before her trip to Japan, Ann spent a successful few days at the Brand Licensing Europe Show at Olympia, where she attracted a huge amount of interest in the launch of 'The Country Cats' and 'Cool for Cats', two more giftware collections featuring Thomas’ adventures.
“It was a terrific show, everyone just loves Thomas,” she said. “We’re already in talks about developing him as a character property across a wide range of products, including giftware and apparel for the teenage/adult female market in Brazil, as well as separate discussions for the European, Japanese and American markets, which is just fantastic.”
Next year, Ann will be hoping to capitalise on Thomas’ success when she launches more new ranges at Spring Fair International in Birmingham in February, and goes Stateside to the Surtex art licensing trade show in New York in May 2011.
In the UK, her products are already being sold by major High Street retailers and she exports to more than 40 other countries worldwide.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
August 2008
Artist goes “native” for her latest collections
Popular artist Ann Edwards is launching three new properties for the greetings card, gift and homeware markets at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe Show.
Already a smash hit thanks to the fame of her successful range of animal characters called The Family Pets, Ann has now extended her skills to the wider animal kingdom and to English flora and fauna.
Featuring wonderful bejewelled elephants, painted ponies and colourful songbirds, One Big Happy Family is her new children’s collection. Designed for youngsters from three upwards, it has togetherness as its theme and will translate perfectly into T-shirts, stationery apparel and the wider gift market.
It’s just a small step from the exotic and entertaining to Ann’s delicate and delightfully named new sets of cards entitled The Blewbury Flora and Vegelicious.
These two brand new properties are sister collections, one featuring photographs of the native flora and fauna of the Oxfordshire village where Ann lives, and the second focusing on the fruit, vegetables and herbs that fill her neighbouring country gardens and fields.
“Every time I go out I see a new flower or fruit in the hedgerow which is just begging to be captured for posterity,” said Ann. “The seasons change so quickly that things are gone before you know it, so I’ve been trying to freeze a moment in time with everything I see.”
Each card features a personal memoir from Ann detailing where and when the featured flowers or vegetables were picked, together with notes on their history and use – combining to make what she calls a 21st Century version of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
Both ranges are photographed against a simple black background, making a perfect product to license for kitchenware and tableware collections.
Ann will be on the stand throughout the show, when she will be happy to sign her work and talk in more detail about her latest collections.
The Family Pets, her range of animal characters created in 2004, has proved incredibly popular around the world and successfully licensed into a range of products including kitchen textiles, melamine place mats, coasters, mugs, stationery, T-shirts and limited edition prints. Examples of this range will also be on display.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
August 2008
Dreaming of a new card collection
Popular artist Ann Edwards has released several new ranges of art cards and bookmarks:
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream – features a wonderful collection of slumbering animals, including snoozing sea elephants, dreaming dodos and tortoises teetering on the edge of the land of nod. Printed in England, these blank cards are A6 size, cello-wrapped with grey envelopes.
The Blewbury Flora and Vegelicious – two sister collections of blank cards. The first features the native flora and fauna of the Oxfordshire village where Ann lives, while the second focuses on fruit, vegetables and herbs, each photographed against a simple black background. Each card features a personal memoir detailing where and when the items were picked, together with notes on their history and use – combining to make what Ann calls a 21st Century version of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
Meanwhile, for reading fans who are always losing their place, Ann has produced a range of 17 bookmarks in a variety of different designs. These include a famous quotes collection, featuring the exquisite skills of respected artist and calligrapher David Pole. The bookmarks are now available in selected outlets.
For more details, visit kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 2008
One Big Happy Family at Alton art gallery
The latest works of well-known animal artist Ann Edwards will be featured in a special two-week exhibition at Alton’s Market St Gallery in June.
Designed to reflect a celebration of life, the collection is entitled One Big Happy Family and, says Ann, the paintings are about journeys and the joy of being part of a family, with viewers able to create a myriad of stories from the images portrayed.
In addition, the exhibition will include original artwork from Ann’s Happy Land tour of Japan and her popular range of artwork entitled The Family Pets, which captures the humorous antics of Ann’s own menagerie of four-legged friends.
Ann, who is a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild, has been painting since 1994 and her work has developed a strong following among the art-buying public. The Family Pets range now includes cards and gifts as well as paintings, and the gallery will be displaying a range of products.
In addition, one lucky visitor will also have the chance to win an original painting with a special prize draw running during the two-week exhibition.
Ann, who lives and works in Oxfordshire, will be opening the exhibition on Saturday, June 7, when customers will have the chance to watch as she demonstrates her unusual monotype style of painting. Ann will also be happy to personalise paintings for customers.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
Exclusive Ann Edwards Art mug range launched by Muglamania Ltd
Successful artist Ann Edwards is delighted to announce the launch of a brand new range of fine bone china mugs produced and sold exclusively by Warwickshire based company ‘Muglamania Ltd’.
Muglamania Ltd (www.muglamania.com) trade predominantly online, shipping throughout Europe and beyond. They pride themselves on offering the widest range of fine bone china, personalised and photo mugs available on the internet. Each mug has been carefully chosen using a wide range of leading artists and designers with a range to suit every taste from contemporary to classic, animal to floral.
The new Ann Edwards range has 24 different designs. Ten mugs feature Ann’s ever popular cat character ‘Thomas’ in a variety of different guises including ‘Glamour Puss’, ‘City fat cat’ and ‘Angel cat’ plus two special Christmas mugs featuring cats and dogs in various festive poses.
In addition, Ann is delighted to produce a further 12 mugs incorporating ‘Chef and Sue’ her hugely admired dog and cat combo who appear in their own weekly cartoon serialisation within the ‘Waitrose’ weekend publication. The popularity of Chef and Sue has soared over the last two years, so much so that they now even have their own facebook page! (http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chef-and-Sue/202784359737777)
As Ann says “Chef and Sue have really taken off recently, and we have been inundated with requests by fans keen to buy products bearing the illustrations. This is the first time that we have produced any so we are sure that they will prove to be popular.”
The range is available to buy from the Muglamania website and also directly from the shop facility at www.annedwardsart.co.uk
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 11
New Ann Edwards Art e-commerce website launched
Successful artist and illustrator Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new e-commerce website which will be selling a limited number of original artworks, unavailable to purchase anyway else either online or in the shops.
Fans of Ann’s work will be familiar with her humorous illustrations of cats and dogs which feature in a vast range of products including stationery, kitchen and tableware. Now collectors will have the opportunity to buy their very own original monotype (ink and watercolour paintings on paper) featuring various dog characters and the ever-popular ‘Thomas the Cat’.
Several of the cat illustrations available feature in the 2012 ‘Cool for cats’ calendar currently available for purchase from WH Smiths, or have appeared in previous issues, whilst the ‘Clever dog’ artwork is used in a range of pet products due to be launched in Spring 2012.
Fans of the popular ‘Chef and Sue’ characters who feature in their own weekly strip serialised in the Waitrose Weekend magazine will also be delighted at the chance to purchase one of the ten original strips also for sale on the site.
Ann says “We are regularly receiving requests from fans who are keen to purchase originals, particularly with the growing popularity of ‘Chef and Sue’, so we are delighted to be able to offer them this chance.”
The new site is now live at www.annedwardsboutique.co.uk or by following the link at the regular existing website address www.annedwardsart.co.uk
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
September 11
Ann Edwards Art ‘Looking for Love’ range to be extended to further branches
Ahead of her upcoming participation at the Brand Licensing Europe exhibition in London, between the 18th and 20th October, successful artist Ann Edwards is pleased to announce that her ‘Looking for Love’ art property designed for the Blue Cross animal charity is going from strength to strength.
The property which features on a range of cards, which includes 36 different designs featuring various needy animals including cats, dogs, rodents and horses are sold exclusively at branches of The Blue Cross (www.bluecross.org.uk) charity shops throughout the UK. At present the cards are available at twelve different branches, but due to overwhelming demand The Blue Cross will now be extending sales to a further fifteen stores within the next couple of months. A percentage of the sale of each card goes directly to the animal charity.
Ann said of the development:
‘We are delighted that the card range has proved so successful for The Blue Cross and we are thrilled that they will be extending sales across their entire list of branches, enabling us to contribute in a small way towards the fantastic work that they do with sick and vulnerable animals. We aim to raise £30,000 a year for the Blue Cross from this venture.’
In addition ‘Looking for Love’ is in development with James and Steel Ltd on a range of pet accessories, feeding bowls, treat jars, feeding mats and toys, with a launch date of Spring 2012.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
July 11
New Ann Edwards Art ‘Farm Yard’ range launched by Tradestock Ltd
Successful artist Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of a new range of trays, coasters and glass work-top savers by Somerset based company ‘Tradestock Ltd’.
Tradestock Ltd (http://www.tradestockltd.co.uk) have been established for over 25 years and produce an exciting range of design led homeware and tabletop products for retailers in the UK , Ireland and Europe.
The new ‘Farm Yard’ range was launched in early June at the ‘Exclusively Housewares’ show which celebrated it’s tenth anniversary at the Business Design centre in London.
Keith Nye, Managing Director of Tradestock Ltd said of the deal:
‘We are delighted to have launched a range with Ann Edwards Art, and the initial feed back we received at the trade show was very positive’
The range will be available to purchase from September 2011.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
June 11
Ann Edwards Art goes French!
Over the last year or two, successful British artist Ann Edwards has seen an increasing amount of interest in her designs from mainland Europe and in particular has seen a vast increase in the number of French customers purchasing products from her cat and dog themed homeware ranges.
Seizing upon this opportunity to expand her empire, and bowing to frequent requests by French customers, Ann has recently launched a French version of her website at www.annedwardsart.com
Ann has been assisted in this endeavour by French business student Elsa Provenzale who has been on a work placement at the Oxfordshire head quarters of Ann Edwards Art for the last few months. In addition to the French version of the website, Elsa has also been able to establish a French fan page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Chef.et.Sue?) for Ann’s popular cartoon strip ‘Chef and Sue’ which currently is published exclusively in the weekly ‘Waitrose Weekend’ publication.
Ann says of the development:
'We are really excited to have been able to launch a French version of the website and hope that our French fans will be excited too!’
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
June 11
Ann Edwards scores huge successes at Surtex 2011
Artist Ann Edwards, has recently returned from an enormously successful trip to the Surtex trade show in New York, where she exhibited her popular cat and dog ranges alongside nearly 300 other exhibitors from all across the world.
The show resulted in Ann gaining over 30 leads for potential new licensing agreements from companies from as far afield as Finland, France, the US, the UK and Canada. She is currently in discussion with companies who are interested in licensing her designs on a wide range of products including T-shirts, ceramics, calendars, textiles, animated e-cards and crafting/patchwork goods.
In addition to the many contacts which Ann made, she was also delighted to forge a licensing deal with ‘Certified International’ an American corporation based in New York with show-rooms throughout the United States. ‘Certified International’ are a leading producer and distributor of table and serve ware producing crockery, trays, ceramic storage jars and pet dishes. To capitalise on the current enthusiasm in the States for all things British, the company will be licensed to produce and distribute a range of cat themed cookie jars, inspired by the recent Royal Wedding, to be known as ‘Prince’ and ‘Princess’ which will incorporate designs from Ann’s ‘Best of British’ range.
Ann says of the deal:
‘I was thrilled to have such a successful trip, and am very excited about the new range which Certified International will be bringing out.’
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
May 11
Ann Edwards commissioned to design Buddhist Wesak greeting card
Artist Ann Edwards, more usually known for her humorous cat and dog illustrations, has recently had the honour of creating a Wesak Card for Reading Buddhist Priory to send out to its 200 Sangha group members. Wesak is the celebration of the Buddha’s birth and this year falls on Tuesday 17th May, the 15th day in the 4th month of the Chinese lunar calendar.
The artwork used for the front piece of the card features an image of the Buddha from the Priory made by artist Terry Wright as a wood block print, which has then been hand-coloured by Ann. At the request of Reverand Alina, a Buddhist monk at the Priory, the inside greeting reads ‘Wishing you joy and peace on the occasion of the festival of the Buddha’s birth and a very happy Buddhist new year.’
Ann says of the work:
‘I’ve made some unusual personalised cards in my time, ‘From the dog on your birthday’ and that sort of thing, but this was such a lovely and unusual commission and we all felt a little more spiritual for helping to celebrate the Buddha’s birth. Happy Wesak to you all!’
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
May 11
New Ann Edwards e-commerce website to launch early May
Successful artist and illustrator Ann Edwards is pleased to announce the launch of the company’s brand new e-commerce website, developed using the unique Amazon Webstore platform. Ann Edwards Art is delighted to have been selected by Amazon to redevelop their site alongside other well known online merchants such as Motorola, Timex, Samsonite and Martha Stewart.
CEO and Artist Ann Edwards said:
“We are really excited with the look and feel of the new site and are sure that it will enhance the shopping experience for our valued customers.”
Fans of Ann’s work will be familiar with her humorous illustrations of cats and dogs which feature in a vast range of products including stationery, kitchen and tableware and in particular with the ever-popular Thomas the cat, now a global licensing star, who appears in various ranges including ‘Domestic Goddess’, ‘I’ll diet tomorrow’, ‘British Cats’ and ‘Master Chef’. Regular customers will also notice the introduction of many new products, taking the total number now available to purchase to over eighty!
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 11
New ‘Glamour puss’ range to launch in July
Popular artist Ann Edwards is releasing a new range of 10 cosmetic and make up bags, mirrors and manicure sets in a variety of shapes and sizes ranging in price from £10. The bags will feature a variety of designs including the ever popular ‘Thomas’ the cat in his new ‘Glamour puss’ incarnation.
Thomas already features in a series of successful brands including ‘Best of British’ where he is dressed as a variety of British-themed icons, such as a Beefeater and a policeman ‘Countryside Cats’ where he is pictured in different locations around the UK; and ‘Domestic Goddess’ his kitchen-themed collection. His image appears on a variety of products including stationery, tableware, mugs and aprons, and will now be complimented by the addition of the cosmetic range.
‘Danielle’, the company which Ann has licensed the new ‘Glamour puss’ range to will be selling the cosmetic products throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and North America. The deal came about as a direct result of Ann exhibiting at Brand Licensing Europe 2010 and says Ann “It is very positive for us to have a deal in place before exhibiting at Surtex in May and we are very excited about the launch in July.”
Fans of Ann’s work might recognise ‘Glamour puss’ as he also featured on the front cover of the ‘Cool for Cats’ 2011 calendar sold in the UK exclusively at high street giant WH Smith. The calendar proved such a success that all stock was sold out by November 2010!
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 11
Chef and Sue to take Facebook by storm!
Due to the huge popularity of the ‘Chef and Sue’ comic strip, which runs exclusively in the Waitrose Weekend publication, the artist Ann Edwards and her team have recently set up a fan page for Chef and Sue aficionados on Facebook.
The characters are based on real life pets, Tilly the dog and Fizzog the cat who belong to friends of Ann in the Oxfordshire village of Blewbury where they all live. The two mice also featured are named Edwards and Platt and are inspired by Ann's husband and his business partner. According to Ann any resemblance to friends and family and any offence caused is completely deliberate and serves you right for annoying her!
Visitors to the fan page (www.facebook.com/pages/Chef-and-Sue/202784359737777) can view the entire back catalogue of strips and also read and view pictures of the real life muses and of Ann herself. In addition, fans can sign up to receive each new strip via email as it goes to press. There is also a link to the Ann Edwards fan page where you can see Ann’s other work and products which are available to purchase. At present the Chef and Sue page has only received 3 ‘Likes’, probably because no-one knows it exists, so lets try and get them into double figures before Easter!!
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
December 2010
Princess makes her Spring Fair debut
She’s very pretty with a cute face and a soft grey coat – and she’s making her debut on the world stage at Spring Fair.
Princess is the first new property from artist and giftware guru Ann Edwards for more than four years and she’s being launched as the little sister to Ann’s ever-popular cat Thomas, who has become a global licensing star.
The move is in demand to requests from licensees who wanted a property aimed at the younger female market.
Ann explains: “Thomas has been a huge success as an adult licensed character for women, particularly in giftware, tableware and accessories, but we wanted to find a new property which would appeal to young girls and Princess fits the bill perfectly.
“She’s a very girly-girl and she loves dressing up as every young girl’s dream – so characters will include Princess Ballerina, Princess Pop Star and a Princess Horse-rider – and we will be having lots of fun with her.”
Ann plans to launch Princess into giftware, publishing and plush, as well as fashion accessories and says initial talks with buyers are already encouraging.
“It’s still early days, but we’re in discussion with a major global calendar manufacturer who is very interested, there’s also a proposal on the table for Princess to go into the Far East and we’re also looking at a range of children’s books for the European market,” said Ann.
“Spring Fair will be the first chance for most potential licensees to see Princess and, as we’ll be displaying her alongside new lines featuring Thomas, we expect to have a really good show.”
Thomas’ success has been built on a successful platform of character ranges, including Best of British – where he is dressed as a variety of British-themed icons, such as a Beefeater and a policeman; Countryside Cats, where he is pictured in different locations around the UK; and Domestic Goddess, his kitchen-themed collection.
Ann recently returned from a highly-successful trip to Japan, where she exhibited at the prestigious British Fair in Osaka and, as a result, has now been asked to design an exclusive range of products to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit for a chain of department stores in Korea.
She is now in talks with a major pet accessory manufacturer to develop a new range of canine characters for the High Street and is also working on a project with the Blue Cross.
After Spring Fair, she heads Stateside to the Surtex art licensing trade show in New York in May.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 2010
ARTIST PROFILE FOR 'The world of cross stitiching' magazine
Thomas – the picture purr-fect star, a real life muse.
They say that cats choose people, not the other way around and when an unwanted stray cuddled up to Gracie, daughter of Oxfordshire artist Ann Edwards, it was love at first sight.
It was a smart move for Thomas – as he is now known – and one that has not only seen him grow into a star of Ann’s paintings and greetings cards, but also become famous in Japan.
Her fabulous drawings have Thomas looking pretty in pink, embracing flower power and, in his latest incarnation, as a James Bond-lookalike. Meeting Thomas, it’s easy to see where Ann gets her ideas.
“Thomas is such a character that he’s been my real inspiration . My muse if you’ll forgive the pun,” she said
“He had an unlucky start in life and we used to see him wandering as a stray around our village. Then he was taken in by one of our neighbours, but her own cats kept beating him up. We went to visit and he just sat on Gracie’s knee blinking at her and the next thing, we had a new cat.”
Animals have always been a major love of Ann’s life and in addition to Thomas she has two dogs – Gnipper and Bella – and a parrot called Jasper, all of whom regularly feature alongside Thomas.
Describing her style as monotype, Ann has been painting and exhibiting since 1994, and her work has been on show at galleries across the UK, but it was after launching Ann Edwards Art in 2004, that her work has become more widely known.
Her studio is based at her home in the Oxfordshire village of Blewbury and she says she owes much of her artistic flair to family genes – her mother was a dancer and contortionist with a travelling circus!
One of Ann’s biggest audiences is in Japan, and she recently returned from her third highly successful signing trip there where she was mobbed by Japanese art collectors who fell in love with Thomas and his friends.
“The response was tremendous, the Japanese just absolutely love Thomas. They call him Thomas nikochan and kiss and stroke his picture” said Ann.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
November 2010
Thomas Nikochan is a hit in Japan
Thomas, the stray cat who struck lucky when he turned up on the doorstep of Oxfordshire artist Ann Edwards, has become a major star in Japan.
Cartoon-style pictures of the handsome black and white moggy in a variety of poses stole the show at the prestigious British Fair in Osaka and earned him the official new title of Thomas Nikochan – or pussycat in Japanese.
The theme of this year’s event was the Cotswolds and Ann unveiled her new Cotswolds Cats collection, which shows Thomas exploring the English countryside and enjoying a traditional cream tea, on a product range that includes shirts, mugs, pen sets and stationery sets.
“It was amazing, everyone wanted a piece from Thomas’ giftware range and there were crowds queuing at the stand wanting me to sign everything from tea towels to T-shirts,” said Ann. “The Japanese love to collect English homewares, one couple travelled overnight for 10 hours just to come and see us, and we’re thrilled that Thomas is now such a VIP.”
The British Fair, now in its 43rd year and held at Hankyu Corporation’s department store in the centre of Osaka, attracted up to a million visitors. Other exhibitors included Huffkins, the Cotswold Bakers and Tea Shops, and The Pudding Club.
Just before her trip to Japan, Ann spent a successful few days at the Brand Licensing Europe Show at Olympia, where she attracted a huge amount of interest in the launch of 'The Country Cats' and 'Cool for Cats', two more giftware collections featuring Thomas’ adventures.
“It was a terrific show, everyone just loves Thomas,” she said. “We’re already in talks about developing him as a character property across a wide range of products, including giftware and apparel for the teenage/adult female market in Brazil, as well as separate discussions for the European, Japanese and American markets, which is just fantastic.”
Next year, Ann will be hoping to capitalise on Thomas’ success when she launches more new ranges at Spring Fair International in Birmingham in February, and goes Stateside to the Surtex art licensing trade show in New York in May 2011.
In the UK, her products are already being sold by major High Street retailers and she exports to more than 40 other countries worldwide.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
August 2008
Artist goes “native” for her latest collections
Popular artist Ann Edwards is launching three new properties for the greetings card, gift and homeware markets at this year’s Brand Licensing Europe Show.
Already a smash hit thanks to the fame of her successful range of animal characters called The Family Pets, Ann has now extended her skills to the wider animal kingdom and to English flora and fauna.
Featuring wonderful bejewelled elephants, painted ponies and colourful songbirds, One Big Happy Family is her new children’s collection. Designed for youngsters from three upwards, it has togetherness as its theme and will translate perfectly into T-shirts, stationery apparel and the wider gift market.
It’s just a small step from the exotic and entertaining to Ann’s delicate and delightfully named new sets of cards entitled The Blewbury Flora and Vegelicious.
These two brand new properties are sister collections, one featuring photographs of the native flora and fauna of the Oxfordshire village where Ann lives, and the second focusing on the fruit, vegetables and herbs that fill her neighbouring country gardens and fields.
“Every time I go out I see a new flower or fruit in the hedgerow which is just begging to be captured for posterity,” said Ann. “The seasons change so quickly that things are gone before you know it, so I’ve been trying to freeze a moment in time with everything I see.”
Each card features a personal memoir from Ann detailing where and when the featured flowers or vegetables were picked, together with notes on their history and use – combining to make what she calls a 21st Century version of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
Both ranges are photographed against a simple black background, making a perfect product to license for kitchenware and tableware collections.
Ann will be on the stand throughout the show, when she will be happy to sign her work and talk in more detail about her latest collections.
The Family Pets, her range of animal characters created in 2004, has proved incredibly popular around the world and successfully licensed into a range of products including kitchen textiles, melamine place mats, coasters, mugs, stationery, T-shirts and limited edition prints. Examples of this range will also be on display.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
ENDS
For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
August 2008
Dreaming of a new card collection
Popular artist Ann Edwards has released several new ranges of art cards and bookmarks:
To Sleep, Perchance to Dream – features a wonderful collection of slumbering animals, including snoozing sea elephants, dreaming dodos and tortoises teetering on the edge of the land of nod. Printed in England, these blank cards are A6 size, cello-wrapped with grey envelopes.
The Blewbury Flora and Vegelicious – two sister collections of blank cards. The first features the native flora and fauna of the Oxfordshire village where Ann lives, while the second focuses on fruit, vegetables and herbs, each photographed against a simple black background. Each card features a personal memoir detailing where and when the items were picked, together with notes on their history and use – combining to make what Ann calls a 21st Century version of Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.
Meanwhile, for reading fans who are always losing their place, Ann has produced a range of 17 bookmarks in a variety of different designs. These include a famous quotes collection, featuring the exquisite skills of respected artist and calligrapher David Pole. The bookmarks are now available in selected outlets.
For more details, visit kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
March 2008
One Big Happy Family at Alton art gallery
The latest works of well-known animal artist Ann Edwards will be featured in a special two-week exhibition at Alton’s Market St Gallery in June.
Designed to reflect a celebration of life, the collection is entitled One Big Happy Family and, says Ann, the paintings are about journeys and the joy of being part of a family, with viewers able to create a myriad of stories from the images portrayed.
In addition, the exhibition will include original artwork from Ann’s Happy Land tour of Japan and her popular range of artwork entitled The Family Pets, which captures the humorous antics of Ann’s own menagerie of four-legged friends.
Ann, who is a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild, has been painting since 1994 and her work has developed a strong following among the art-buying public. The Family Pets range now includes cards and gifts as well as paintings, and the gallery will be displaying a range of products.
In addition, one lucky visitor will also have the chance to win an original painting with a special prize draw running during the two-week exhibition.
Ann, who lives and works in Oxfordshire, will be opening the exhibition on Saturday, June 7, when customers will have the chance to watch as she demonstrates her unusual monotype style of painting. Ann will also be happy to personalise paintings for customers.
For more details, visit www.annedwardsart.co.uk or call 01235 851923.
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For media information and photography, please contact: Kirsty Ford, Marketing and E-commerce Manager T: 01279 850399 or email: kirsty.ford@edwardsandplatt.co.uk
