Many of us harbour a fondness for a simpler time, before i-pads and email, traffic and Twitter. Averil Thornton has made a living for some years in celebrating the bygone halcyon days of the Victorian era. Her new business, Vintage Images Collection, was founded in June this year after spending 15 years publishing a nostalgic Yorkshire based magazine with worldwide appeal.
Pursuing what began as a hobby through her work as an Editor, her time is now spent responding to the demand for Victoriana in print. Based online at www.vintageimages.info her e-bay store offers a unique range of evocative Victorian images as prints and new postcards.
since. Averil painstakingly put the collection together after years spent trawling antique shops, fairs and second-hand bookshops for a personal collection which she now shares with other enthusiasts.
A rural Yorkshire lass herself (circa 1946), Averil spent over 25 years in the marketing, publishing and media industry, a career which she was able to continue despite become disabled in the 1990s. Now with new husband Dan, who is also disabled, she looks forward to a bright future – trading in the pastoral past which is her passion.
From trade cards, old packaging and book illustrations,The Vintage Images Collection began with over 150 images and is continuing to grow all the time. Each 6 x 4 postcard is also available as an A3 or A4 print and glowing feedback from customers on the quality and speed of service is helping to spread the word.
New artists working in the same style are added to the collection regularly to keep it fresh. A recent addition is an exclusive range of 7 x 5 fine art postcards featuring images by the late Michael Herring whose work is in demand from collectors worldwide, and a collection of nostalgic golfing images by Kevin Walsh will shortly be available. Averil welcomes other artists to submit their work for inclusion in the collection, and is developing new ranges including Art Deco, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s images.
Not all of Averil’s customers are internet savvy, so the Vintage Images Collection is also available as a regularly updated printed catalogue, available on request from 01507 522888.
Although the business is in its infancy, orders are coming in from all over the world for these specialist items which make perfect gifts for anyone with a passion for our
Victorian and Edwardian heydays. The collection is grouped into themes for ease if searching through the 270+ images; Children & Animals, Flowers, Birds, Farming, Fashion, Harvest, Nursery, Seaside and Romance to name but a few.
Averil is also developing a bespoke side of the business in response to demand for special requests to incorporate the designs into wedding stationery and dolls house miniatures.
As people are becoming increasingly interested in researching their own genealogy, their sense of that heritage is heightened by the images Averil offers. “We’re really delighted with the level of interest we have generated already”, explains Averil “and it’s very rewarding work researching original designs to add to the collection and
responding to enquiries from customers who are so thrilled to have found us.”