Hannah Dale began Wrendale Designs on a crowded kitchen table in Melton Ross, Lincolnshire. Having a pretty eclectic background (studying art at school before reading Zoology at Cambridge University followed by five years as a stockbroker in London), I found myself married to a Lincolnshire farmer with a young baby and a desperation to find an outlet for my artistic roots. Being a practical sort, I turned my hand to sewing, furnishing the windows of many friends and family with beautiful curtains and blinds, and also making personalised nursery paintings for children which proved very popular.

Inspired by the glorious Lincolnshire countryside and the outdoor life we are lucky enough to enjoy, I started to paint hares. I just love their expressive faces and wonderful personalities and I'm pleased to say that other people agreed and they were an immediate success. Spurred on by this, I expanded my repertoire and began painting other animals - foxes, pheasants, geese, dogs, hens (we keep cochins with their wonderfully feathery feet!).

It was then suggested to me that I design some cards... and I haven't looked back. Since then, we have won three prestigious Henries awards and supply cards nationwide, as well as exporting all over the world. We have a collaboration with Portmeirion who produce wonderful quality ceramic, textile and melamine items featuring our designs, and we have also branched out beyond cards to produce other staionery and a fab tinware range.