ABOUT

Our Story

HOW ITSTARTED...

Yes, you guessed it, we’re sisters! And Curious Pencil was dreamed up leant over our family kitchen counter, rooted in our Christian values, the name was chosen sat on the edge one of our beds, our first logo designed on a train journey.

To take you back... In 2015, at a university pop-up show we stumbled upon the inspiration to combine our skills, Simone with a love for creative writing, and Sheleen with a passion for illustration. We created our very first greeting card.

We then began selling cards to the public at craft fairs and local gift shops. Soon after we saw the real impact of our cards, we had people who came back to us to say how our cards helped heal their marriage or how it touched their loved one so much it made them cry.

We quickly realised there was a power in our cards, and they were a bridge to truly touch emotions in a human way, to make people feel seen, valued, and appreciated.

AND THEN...

... As the years went by we sold our cards in independent retailers across the UK. Meanwhile, Simone also worked in the corporate world as a Mortgage Advisor for a well known high street bank.

Here she bonded with her clients on their journey to buy a home, one of life’s biggest milestones, and at the end of the journey there was nothing to add value and appreciate them on a human level to say thank you or well wishes in their new home, everything was purely transactional despite them spending thousands of pounds with the bank.

The difference between that experience, and the emotional impact we were seeing with our cards was hard to ignore. We could see how easily those key moments were missed in the corporate world. It was clear that each transaction, could be a moment of connection in a personal way, not only was it beneficial for corporate but also for the individual...

FINALLYWE...

We explored to see what was our there, and could see there was a huge gap. So we decided to bring the two worlds together. We started tailoring our cards for businesses to feel thoughtful, warm, and human.

Curious Pencil has now grown from strength to strength. Simone now leads the team as Creative Director, Sheleen as an Illustrator and Social Media Manager, and we also have the fabulous Harriet who is our superstar Creative Assistant, also artist. We also work closely with our suppliers, and other local artists to make sure we deliver the best quality cards for our clients.

Because for us, this has always been personal. Family is at the heart of what we do, and it shapes how we see business. People are not numbers, they are individuals who want to feel seen and appreciated. We have seen it happen with our clients time and time again. That is why everything we create is centred around connection. Our cards do more than deliver a message, they surprise and delight by creating human-to-human moments that people remember.

MEET THE TEAM

Making the world smile, one person at a time

OUR MISSION...

Our mission is to help businesses put people first – one meaningful card at a time.

We believe that every customer, client, and colleague deserves to feel seen, valued and connected. Our branded, hand-illustrated cards are designed to enhance the customer experience by building an emotional connection. Helping your business stand out and mark the moments that really matter.

OURDIFFERENCE...

We work with your company directly and offer a truly unique and personalised service like no other. Not only this, but unlike standard shop-bought cards, our cards are custom-designed for your brand. We also steer away from the lack of personality in typical corporate greeting cards.

Instead, we add a fresh, heart-warming look, unforgettable hand-illustrated designs, and great quality, ensuring they stand out on mantlepieces and pull at the heartstrings of your staff and customers.

Illustration of a person interacting with a zebra-like creature on a white background

OUR VALUES...

Our values run through everything we do, from the creative process to every interaction we have with our clients. Our cards are created to help your business make a lasting impression, and we want your experience with us to be just as memorable.

How we do business matters to us too. We support local charities and choose to work with local artists to give back to our home community. We also plant trees, use sustainable materials and choose eco-friendly packaging to minimise our impact on the planet.