The St Austell Printing Company Calendar
Each year we team up with talented illustration students from Falmouth University to release the official St Austell Printing Company Calendar.
Since 2014, we’ve tasked the students to produce illustrations for each month, plus a cover based on a particular theme. This ties into the third year curriculum of their illustration course, and gives them the opportunity to work on a real, live project.
The entire production process takes place in-house, where thousands of the calendars are designed, printed and finished before being sent through our mailing and fulfilment department to clients and friends across the UK.
Since we started the collaboration, there’s been a real buzz around the calendar and that year’s theme. We’re always asked by clients when they are going to receive the next one, and which theme we’ll use next.
The calendar has proven to provide an excellent opportunity for the students to promote their work too. We have a large number of design and marketing agencies who receive a copy of the calendar each year, which has directly led to work for students.
Thank you to all the students for taking part in this years’ calendar project.
This year’s calendar brief: Happy Place
All the artwork in this calendar was created by twelve very talented final year illustration students at Falmouth University. We asked to create artwork based on the theme of “Happy place”.
This year was very different. Normally, we would visit the University and hold our sessions face-to-face. This year, due to the pandemic we had to move online and conducted everything remotely. This also means that unfortunately, the students were unable to visit our factory to watch the calendar being manufactured. However, we have promised to arrange a time for them to visit once the university restrictions allow.
This is an excerpt of the brief we delivered to them. We chose the final thirteen illustrations from nearly fifty submissions.
Health and wellbeing is very-much at the forefront of people’s minds. We live in exceptional times, and we want to use the 2021 calendar to acknowledge and promote the importance of looking after ourselves and each other.
A “Happy Place” could be a physical location, a state of mind or situation. Something, or somewhere that makes you, or others feel happy, safe and comforted. This year more than ever, people were aware of what is important to them. We are looking for this to be a positive project which inspires, enlightens and educates.
Cover: Kate Saunders
Finding the shade in a hammock on a still, hot summer day offers the perfect chance to relax, soaking up the warmth, enjoying that unique earthy smell that is heightened by the heat whilst turning the pages of a good book.
January: Charlotte Rowe
A response to the most daring women: cold water sea swimmers. Armed with nothing but a retro looking swimming costumes they brave the icy seas. Onlookers are filled with amazement when these women take the plunge with smiles across their faces into the coldest of all happy places.
February: Ewan White
The illustration depicts how a person’s happy place can change over their lifetime, I used memory doors as a concept to achieve this. Each memory bleeds into the next showing how you would walk from one memory to the next within your thoughts
March: Anna Bale
I adore the outdoors; it brings peace and relaxation away from everyday life. Fires are mesmerising to watch star light beautiful. I wanted to produce an image, in which individuals can reflect, while creating a fantasy-like aesthetic. My love for climbing is suggested through placing gear near the tent.
April: Molly Beardall
In this homely scene, the viewer is a part of a chaotic and cheerful Sunday roast enjoyed with all the family. A scene like this can be a rare thing in these difficult times. So hopefully this illustration evokes happy memories for the viewer, and maybe even inspire some home cooking!
May: Jasmine Cragg
Growing up in the industrial city of Hong Kong, I became interested in exploring the relationship between humans and nature. I wanted to create a brightly-coloured illustration imbued with a sense of contentedness to remind everyone to slow down from their fast-past lifestyle, and to enjoy the peaceful and otherworldly atmosphere.
June: Michelle Tan
Happiness is being warm, cozy and fed! There’s nothing I want more than to be a fuzzy little bee, snoozing in the sun after eating my fill of honey, surrounded by beautiful flowers!
July: Nina Carson
As a child at my family home I would spend days on my swing in our garden, overlooking the fields where often sheep or cows were kept. These memories are connected to themes of freedom, daydreaming and happiness. I think that this surreal aspect adds playfulness to the illustration as well as highlights it to be a childhood memory full of imagination. I think that despite the image being personal to me, any viewer can connect with the themes and it can remind them of the simplicities and happy moments of being a child.
August: Kate Saunders
Warm summer skies that can change in minutes combined with the beautiful golden light in the early evening never fail to impress. Enjoying that experience with friends is always a perfect end to any day- a moment which I’ve tried to capture here.
September: Charlotte Nash
Being in a big double bed with as many dogs as possible is my bliss. I would get barely any sleep with all the commotion throughout the night, but I was beyond happy to be piled in with so many lovely dog friends.
October: Lily Stock
Beautiful clouds. Calming waters. Watching how the sea reflects the sky is the perfect place to slow down and reflect yourself. The world is so fast paced nowadays that it’s hard to find time to sit down and unwind a little, but that’s what makes this time so precious to have.
November: Selina Jenner
A peaceful forest scene, depicting woodland animals gathering around for a story being told by a woman against a tranquil sunset. Including rich tangible woodland colours and textures creating a sense of happiness whilst portraying our love for animals and nature.
December: Meg Shepherd
The Mousehole Christmas lights is an event that is loved by lots of different people. It is my ‘happy place’ as I have looked forward to going every year that I can. The streets are filled with Christmas lights, mulled wine stalls and lots of people having fun!