Our Story
Where Art Began as a Gift
Susel & Co is an independent British homewares and stationery brand rooted in original artwork, designed in our North Yorkshire studio and made exclusively in the UK.
It began not with a formal launch, but with a gesture.
Artist Susan Brunskill would create small packs of notecards to take as gifts when invited to friends’ homes for dinner. These thoughtful pieces featured her original artwork, printed in small quantities and wrapped with care.
They were never intended for sale.
Yet those small offerings resonated. Friends began asking to purchase them. Visitors at local exhibitions, where Susan was showcasing her portraiture, returned looking for more.
What started as a personal detail quietly evolved into something larger. An artist-led British stationery brand, grown organically and shaped by genuine demand rather than trend.
That spirit of considered beginnings remains at the heart of Susel & Co today.
Every piece begins with art.
The Artist Behind the Brand
At the centre of Susel & Co is Susan Brunskill. Artist, founder and the creative force behind every design.
Her work is grounded in formal artistic training. She holds degrees in both Animation and Illustration, and studied at The Royal College of Art in London, one of the world’s most respected institutions for art and design.
This foundation informs everything she creates.
The discipline of animation instilled an understanding of composition, movement and narrative. Illustration refined her sensitivity to detail and balance. Together, they shape the distinctive character seen across her portraiture and throughout the Susel & Co collections.
Working from our studio in North Yorkshire, Susan continues to create original artworks and undertake commissioned portraiture alongside developing new designs for the brand. Nothing originates digitally. Each collection begins as hand-drawn artwork before evolving into the finished piece.
Even the smallest notecard carries the same artistic consideration as a framed original.
Portrait image credit:
© Yorkshire Post Newspapers | James Hardisty (@snapperjim)
From Paper to Home
As interest grew, so did the vision.
What began as artist-led stationery gradually expanded into a considered collection of British homewares. It became clear that the artwork could move beyond paper and into the fabric of everyday living.
Textiles and home pieces were developed to extend the life of the artwork in meaningful ways. From carefully crafted cushions to thoughtfully designed kitchen textiles, each piece allows the original artwork to inhabit a space more fully.
The evolution felt natural. The intention remained the same.
To create beautifully.
To design with longevity in mind.
To produce thoughtfully.
Crafted in Our North Yorkshire Studio. Made in Britain.
From the beginning, quality has been non-negotiable.
From our North Yorkshire studio, we craft our stationery collections by hand and partner with British makers to produce our homeware pieces. Every product is made exclusively in the UK with care, attention and longevity in mind.
In Our North Yorkshire Studio
Our stationery is printed, finished and carefully prepared in-house. Working this way allows complete creative oversight and meticulous attention to detail, with each piece produced in considered quantities.
Made for Us in the UK
Our textile and homeware collections are manufactured exclusively by trusted British makers whose craftsmanship reflects our standards for quality, precision and enduring design.
Why It Matters
Keeping production within the UK enables close collaboration, carefully overseen quality control and responsible small-batch manufacturing. We believe knowing where something is made, and by whom, is part of its value.
Designed in our studio. Crafted in Britain.
Our Philosophy
Susel & Co was never built on speed or scale. It was built on intention.
- Original artwork at the core
- Considered design over fleeting trend
- Quality materials and responsible production
- Crafted in Britain with carefully chosen partners
- An independent, artist-led approach
As a British homewares and stationery brand, we create pieces designed to endure. They are not decorative for a season, but made to live within homes for years to come.
We believe art should not feel distant or precious. It should live with you. On a desk. Within a letter. Across a table. Woven into the fabric of a home.
Meet the Team
Susan
Founder & Artist
Still happiest with a paintbrush in hand, Susan leads the creative direction of Susel & Co from first sketch to final detail. When she is not developing new collections, she is working on original artworks or commissioned portraits from the North Yorkshire studio.
With a background in animation and illustration, she brings a strong sense of composition and balance to everything she creates. She has an instinct for when something feels finished, and when it needs just one more small adjustment.
Nigel
Operations & Events
The steady hand behind the scenes, Nigel keeps Susel & Co moving. From managing the events calendar to early-morning stand set-ups and the practical realities of running a small business, he handles the details that allow the creative work to flourish.
Often found assembling show displays, lifting boxes or refining a spreadsheet, Nigel ensures that every show runs smoothly and every plan stays on track. He is rarely without a tape measure and always knows where the van keys are.
Keeley
Studio & Client Coordination
Keeley is a central part of the studio’s daily rhythm. From overseeing production and preparing orders to coordinating wedding stationery and responding to enquiries, she supports both the creative and practical sides of the business.
Working across projects large and small, she keeps communication clear and details in hand, helping ideas move from initial conversation to finished piece. She is often the reassuring voice at the end of an email.
Office Jr
Head of Meet & Greet
Our resident Fox Red Labrador holds the unofficial titles of Head of Meet & Greet and Head of HR. A constant presence in the studio, he takes welcoming visitors and supervising daily activity very seriously.
Rarely far from the door and always alert to the sound of packaging, he maintains morale and ensures regular breaks are observed. He is particularly committed to lunchtime and considers snacks a matter of professional importance.
From a handful of gifted notecards to a growing British design brand, Susel & Co has evolved steadily without losing sight of its beginnings.
Rooted in original artwork.
Designed in North Yorkshire.
Made in Britain.
Created to be lived with.