At Whale & Bird we pride ourselves on championing illustrators, artists and makers. We’ve curated a collection of fantastic small businesses and independent artists - even if we do say so ourselves!

Every weird and wonderful product you see here has been designed by a small business. And, with Christmas just around the corner, we thought we would feature some of these illustrators and help you find some last minute gifts or greeting cards for the art lovers in your life.

And make sure to save this post - as it is not only handy for Christmas buy for birthday presents too.

For the one who loves a bit of dark humour

Yep, that is right. Up first is our Forest Fr1ends collection. A hilarious group of woodland critters who don’t shy away from the odd swear word or innuendo! The Forest Fr1ends collection is one of our most popular but it is certainly not for the faint hearted.

For the one who loves botanicals and living green

Our brilliantly talented in house designer, Mary Joy Harris, has a range of beautiful enamel pins. These lapel pins are a great stocking filler for any loved one that is eco conscious and loves plants. The intricate design of these brooches is sure to impress!

For the one who is obsessed with puns

Did someone say master of puns? Because Katie Abey has got to be the number one! And not only is this range filled to the brim with clever puns and positivity, she also tells it how it is. Whether your loved one is all about positivity or they love a bit of sarcasm, there is something in the Katie Abey collection to choose from.

For the one who can’t afford a house deposit because they buy too many avocados

Okay okay, please know that we are joking. But who doesn’t love avocados?! Anna Alekseeva has a seriously cute avocado enamel pin that would look dreamy on your friend's collar, bag, pencil case… We’re also a huge fan of her Catbum design, as will be any of your cat lover friends. (What is it with cats showing off their bums all the time?!)

For the one who needs a pick me up

If your friend or family member needs reminding just how AWESOME they are and how they actually CAN DO THIS then Nutmeg And Arlo is the one for you. Each design in this collection is a heartwarming pick me up for someone who is shrimply amazing (Oh yeah, we forgot to mention there are a few puns in there too!)

For the cat lover

In our books, anyone who doesn’t like cats is a weirdo. And we think Purr In Ink will agree! These mega cute (but also weirdly haunting?) illustrated greeting cards are a brilliant choice for anyone who has or has had a cat pal in their life. Oh and they rhyme - what more could you want?!

If we still haven’t quite hit the sweet spot you can see our whole collection of artists here to find something that is exactly right for you and your loved one.

And if you’re an artist who would like to submit their work, we would love to hear from you! Click here and show us your quirky goodness.