Our Christmas 2024 Gift Commission: Hands for Feet
Over the last seven years, we’ve formed one of our favourite festive traditions; approaching local artists and makers to commission personalised Christmas gifts for all the Kingdom and Sparrow team.
While we take pride in partnering with brands both nationally and globally in our branding and design work, we also enthusiastically embrace opportunities to celebrate and collaborate with local makers and artists. We find the festive season is a perfect occasion to spotlight Cornwall’s creative talent, while also showing our gratitude for our team’s hard work and dedication.
For 2024’s gift, we got in touch with artist Ali Knowles-Lenoir, or Hands for Feet as he’s also known! Ali is an illustrator, printmaker, muralist, and sign-writer, working between Cornwall and Kent, who brings a distinctive style to his work. His designs are colourful, bold, playful, and rooted in storytelling, often with a surrealist twist – qualities that resonate with Kingdom and Sparrow’s approach to branding and design. Collaborating with Ali was a joy, and he brought our vision for this year’s gifts to life with his signature style.
When we approached Ali, we shared the themes that inspire our work: individuality, nature, and craftsmanship. We also gave him some insight into each of our team members; describing their individual quirks, tastes and a little bit about what makes them tick.
The result? A set of beautifully illustrated and hilariously unique keepsakes that every member of the Kingdom and Sparrow team can cherish.
For us, investing in local artists and makers isn’t just about gifting something unique; it’s about fostering connections within our community and supporting the creative economy. Each year, we’re reminded of how much talent we have right on our doorstep. These collaborations inspire us and strengthen our sense of place in the UK’s thriving artistic landscape.
Over the years, our Christmas gifts have included hand-thrown ceramics, limited-edition prints, surf boards, hand-made garments and practical backpacks, all created by talented local makers. Each piece tells a story and allows us to add a personal touch to our festive celebrations. Reflecting on these gifts reminds us why we started this tradition and why it’s become such a cherished part of our company culture. Read more about our previous gifts here.
As we head into another year, we’re already looking forward to next Christmas and the chance to collaborate with another brilliant local artist. The excitement of seeing our team’s reactions to these bespoke gifts is something we treasure, and we’re proud to continue a tradition that reflects our values so closely.
To all the talented makers we’ve worked with and those we’ve yet to meet: thank you for inspiring us year after year. Here’s to another season of creativity, collaboration, and celebrating the best of Cornwall.
