About Bug Art
Originally from York, Jane Crowther graduated from Kingston Polytechnic in 1986 with a degree in Illustration. She founded Bug Art in 1991. Based in North London and supported by the Government Enterprise Scheme, Jane designed a small range of greeting cards to supplement her meagre income as an artist, initially selling them at craft fairs alongside her paintings.
These first cards, the Snout range, featured a cute little bug character with a plastic nose and wobbly eyes. The earliest Snout cards were partially hand-painted (as even four-colour printing was then beyond Jane's means!), the noses and eyes were glued on and the nostrils painted black.
Bug Art still relied on attendance at craft fairs and trade shows for sales, but the Snouts soon attracted attention - there was nothing else like them - agents and distributors began to show an interest, and the orders started to roll in. Within a couple of years Bug Art had acquired a team of agents covering most of Britain and distributors covering North America, Australasia and parts of Europe. Jane had to employ friends and family to keep up with demand - all that sticking on of eyes and noses!
The range proved hugely popular, and over the next 10 years would sell in their millions to over 20 countries.
A second range was released in 1993, and although different in style, was again a great success. The cards had a 'handmade paper' look background, enhanced by foil and embossing. This Paper & Foil range is still one of Bug Art's best selling ranges, annually updated with new designs.
Both ranges have demonstrated an unusual longevity for the greeting card market with many of the original designs still available.
In 1995 Jane and Bug Art moved to Nottingham. They started from a small industrial unit and soon expanded into offices and a larger warehouse in 1998. In 1999, Jane's sister Anne joined the company as a non-executive director. Anne, a chartered accountant with many years of consultancy experience, initiated and oversaw the financial and logistical restructuring of the business.
In 2002 Anne and Chris Griffiths (Bug Art's general manager) started up A La Carte to provide warehousing, distribution and credit control services to greeting card publishers - with Bug Art as its first client! Jane was now able to concentrate on her role as Art Director for Bug Art.
In the same year Bug released the Jewel range. The innovative use of 'jewel-like' foil embossing against black backgrounds provided a classic yet contemporary look, which again has had lasting appeal.
Every new Bug Art design has a tiny little bug hidden in the image. This was originally done as a way to link the more 'artistic' ranges in with the original cartoon style and bugs of the 'Snout' range. There are however, one or two designs where the bug has been accidentally left off - whoops!
Bug Art release up to three new ranges a year and add new images to refresh successful existing ranges. In recent years, to expand and broaden the card ranges, Jane has commissioned designs from, and worked in partnership with, other artists.
Bug Art, together with its printers and foilers, has on six occasions received formal recognition both for its designs and for their production quality: twice nominated for the Henries (the Oscars of the greeting card industry); runners-up in the International API Foiling Awards; second and third in the 'Print World' national awards; and short-listed for an International Foiling Award.
Bug Art continues to enjoy success in the UK - selling to independent retailers, small chains and quality department stores. Its first website was launched in 1998 and in 2009 an online ordering facility (for the UK only) was added - improving availability for existing and potential customers alike. There is also an online ordering facility for Bug Art's UK trade customers.
Bug Art sells its cards the world over, with agents covering the whole of the UK and distributors in Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand and many European countries.
