Victoria Eggs

Fine Art BA (Hons)

Victoria chose Birmingham City University for its historic School of Art, where she embraced every opportunity to create. She experimented freely across disciplines before graduating and gaining early industry experience designing for Ben Sherman in Australia. Returning to the UK, she transformed her British-inspired illustrations into products and founded Victoria Eggs in 2011, now an internationally stocked British homeware brand.

“I’m originally from Royston in Hertfordshire, and for me, a creative path was always the plan. After a wonderful Art Foundation year, I visited several universities, but the moment I stepped into the historic studios at Margaret Street, I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next three years.

I lived in student accommodation within walking distance of the School of Art and loved the bright, open studio spaces. I had access to all the facilities, which meant I could experiment with different disciplines. One week I’d be screen printing, the next I’d be in the woodwork shop.

After graduating, I worked for a year while living in the Jewellery Quarter, saving up to go travelling. When I returned, I began making my own greetings cards alongside working in a restaurant. A company discovered my cards in a shop and offered me a role as a greeting card designer, while also managing their orders and agents. Part of my role was design, but I was also managing stock, attending trade fairs, and learning what it really takes to run a business. It was invaluable experience, and I stayed for a couple of years before moving to Sydney, Australia.

I’d visited Australia during my travels and knew I wanted to return. It felt like the right time, and I ended up designing T-shirts for Ben Sherman, as well as working for an inspiring branding agency where I combined design with project management. It was excellent experience for what was to come next.

I returned to the UK in 2010, and design jobs were few and far between. I had built a portfolio of British-inspired illustrations while working at Ben Sherman, but much of what I designed wasn’t quite right for them. I realised there was something powerful in the imagery and icons - the charm and nostalgia of being British, or of visiting the UK -which really resonates with people.

With the help of a screen printer, I began producing my designs in a freezing cold studio in South London. I started selling at Spitalfields Market on weekends, taking my suitcase on the bus and selling a small collection of tea towels, mugs, bags and T-shirts.

It quickly became clear that the designs were resonating with people. I listened carefully to feedback and then took a leap of faith, using my savings to apply for Top Drawer London, one of the UK’s leading home and gift trade fairs.

I put together a slightly larger collection. One range was London-themed, and another celebrated British food - bangers and mash and other comforting, familiar favourites. That collection proved so popular that we’re still selling it 15 years later. I keep trying to discontinue it, but people keep buying it, which is rather lovely.

I had a very small stand at the fair, with friends and family helping. We were incredibly busy. Buyers loved the designs, they were different from what was on the market at the time, and I received orders from shops, as well as interest from retailers such as John Lewis.

Today, I’m the Managing and Creative Director of Victoria Eggs, the British homeware and gift company I founded in March 2011. I hand-illustrate all the designs in my studio in Kingston upon Thames, and I run a small but incredible team of six. Some are full time, some freelance, and some work remotely, but every one of them is brilliant and truly invested in the brand.

Everything is ethically and sustainably made in the UK. Our stockists include Liberty, Harrods, Waterstones, Whole Foods, Abbey Road Studios, St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, and airports including Heathrow and Gatwick. We also sell internationally, including the Biltmore Estate and The Huntington in the USA, and Maruzen in Japan.

One of my proudest achievements has been designing the 2025 Liberty Christmas Advent Calendars, alongside an exclusive year-round collection. As an art student, I spent countless hours wandering through Liberty, marvelling at the iconic fabrics and timber-framed architecture, never imagining I would one day collaborate with such a legendary brand.

Seeing my designs on those historic shelves was a true ‘pinch-me’ moment, a wonderful full-circle experience, from student daydreaming in the aisles to becoming part of the Liberty story.

My advice to new BCU graduates is simple: work hard, be nice to people, and show up fully every day."