Art licensing and design studio The London Studio has announced a very busy first quarter of 2025, with new territories and expanded partnerships planned for its Artists Collective community, continuing success for its in-house brands, and the appointment of experienced licensing professional Jo Astles to help manage this fast-growing business.

The London Studio Artists Collective, a community that brings together, promotes and collaborates with some of the world’s most exciting independent artists, made news last year when Ryman Design, the one-stop shop for stationery enthusiasts, artists and professionals looking for unique, high-quality products, stocked over 500 Artists Collective greetings card designs in the new Ryman Design Cheapside store.

So impressed was Ryman Design with the way the cards performed – included record-breaking sales at Christmas – that the Artists Collective is now being given even more space and moving into key Ryman Design stores. The Artists Collective area in these stores is branded; it also includes signage that makes clear that each purchase supports an independent artist or creative small business.

But that’s not all. The launch of Denmark’s Mossy Frog, a new personalised greetings card company, has helped to bring the Artists Collective to Scandinavia where it will aid the growth of Mossy Frog and its witty and striking designs.

Coverage in publications like US Weekly, Cosmopolitan and Metro for both in-house cards and partners’ cards is also keeping awareness of The London Studio’s core greetings card business high. Online interest has grown too, even seeing London Studio clients feature in a popular reel by American actor Amber Kacherian where she compares US and USA card designs!

At the same time in-house brands like the fabulous retro-inspired Dreamadelic and Kitty Cocktails, where famous drinks meet crazy cats, are bringing The London Studio to diaries, calendars and many other licensing categories both in the UK and abroad.

It’s no surprise therefore that the company has now boosted its senior team to manage growth with the recent appointment of Jo Astles as Artist and Licensing Development Manager.

A former licensing agent at the Bright Agency, where she specialised in greetings cards, as well as creative manager at The Original Poster Company for 15 years, Jo combines design ability with the business and licensing skills that fit perfectly with the ongoing expansion plans of the London Studio.

As part of The London Studio team, Jo will be using her skills and experience to help its artists to develop both creatively and in business terms while also helping to grow the licensing arm of The London Studio business.

Founder and director of The London Studio Soula Zavacopoulos says: “The past year was a breakout one for The London Studio, with both in-house brands and partnerships like The Artists Collective securing growing interest from the greetings card and licensing trades. This has continued into 2025 with new territories, new deals and growing potential for the business as a whole. We now need to take the business to a new level and our new appointee Jo Astles has certainly hit the ground running. We’re delighted to welcome her on board as we build on the success of 2024. Expect even more announcements very soon!”

About The London Studio
The London Studio is an art licensing and design studio specializing in designing top-selling products for retail, developing commercially successful brands, and developing creative work for clients including celebrities, international retail chains, blue-chip corporations and charities. In 2023 it formed the London Studio Artists Collective, a community that brings together, promotes and collaborates with some of the most exciting independent artists.