Our Story
The Story of A Blackbird Sang
Founded in 2016, we (Genny and Tony) draw, design and make, here in the UK, nature, wildlife and poetry inspired art for both the home and garden. Our original and popular designs include Wall Art, Bird Silhouettes, Leaf Quote decorations, indoor Pot Stems, Key Hooks, Christmas Decorations, Stationery, Tea Towels and more.
Why "A Blackbird Sang"?
Our name is taken from a line in the poem Adlestrop by Edward Thomas:
"And for that minute a blackbird sang
Close by, and round him, mistier,
Farther and farther, all the birds
Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire."
About us, Genny and Tony
Genny recently completed an MSc in Conservation Ecology at Oxford Brookes University. Alongside running (with Tony) A Blackbird Sang, Genny helps to manage local Oxfordshire conservation groups including Farmland Bird Aid Network and the Wychwood Flora Group. This involves regularly feeding and monitoring farmland birds and surveying for wild flowers. Genny draws, paints, and linocuts the nature and wildlife she sees when walking through or managing the local landscape.
Tony works as an Artist and Designer for A Blackbird Sang. Tony also exhibits new work regularly in the UK with the artist group ArtMoreLovely during Oxford Artweeks and events throughout the year. Tony is working hard to blend low-waste production and art skills to make a new approach to 21st century craft and design. He recently published a monograph called 'River' to explore rivers in the widest natural and political sense with his poetry, language research, and beautiful drawings by Kath Fotheringham.
Making in the UK
We believe in local. Almost everything we make is designed and made in the UK. The exceptions are our eco-tissue paper (made in Turkey), and our deckchair frames (made in Poland). We use minimal plastic-free packaging. We work with suppliers who care about quality and deliver on time. Our smaller designs are packed by Julie in our village of Stonesfield. Our key hooks are bent at our kitchen table, if not by Tony then by local students.
Our Values
We place nature, people and planet at the heart of what we do. Our company values are focused on the following, and we continuously strive to improve, innovate and nurture, in order to grow as a business:
- conserving nature and helping it thrive
- keeping craft traditions alive
- making less but designing to last.
When you purchase from us you are supporting our local economy – even as a small company in West Oxfordshire we're proud to contribute to the sustainable creative work in our economy.
