A Chat With Lyn Thompson: Founder of Whistlefish

Whistlefish was founded in 1996 in St Ives by Lyn Thompson, an ambitious young artist with a passion for florals and animals – who’s passionately grown the company into a much- loved brand, now with 12 shops across the south-west. Known for celebrating the everyday in an extraordinary way, Whistlefish seeks to bring the joy of Cornwall into homes everywhere with beautifully designed, affordable and sustainably made cards, wall art and gifts.

Like us, Whistlefish share a love for the Cornish coastline and its power to inspire creativity. So, we caught up for an interview with Whistlefish’s founder Lyn Thompson to chat more about art in Cornwall.

What is it about Cornwall, do you think, that inspires such creativity for artists?

I think it’s the rugged coastline, beautiful wildflowers and the hedgerows all year round. It is just beautiful. I think this has attracted artists to this area for hundreds of years. St. Ives is quite renowned for its art, there were 26 art galleries in St. Ives when I first opened Whistlefish there, and it was inspirational. Lots of artists wanted to feature their work. There was a good art vibe then, and there still is.

How does the Cornish landscape influence the work that Whistlefish creates?

The unique style of Whistlefish has always included the wild coastal and floral scenes you see around Cornwall where all these elements meet in one lovely picture. It’s like the view you see when you’re walking to the beach on a lovely coastal path, among the sea pinks and wild daisies with the ocean in the distance. It’s all just very inspirational. It’s not like other places in the UK where it can just be a concreted path to the beach, every inch is so picturesque in Cornwall. Even my drive to the office through back lanes is beautiful!

What are your favourite spots to paint/create in Cornwall?

When I used to paint a lot it was always in St Ives, in a building next to the St. Ives Parish Church called The Parish Rooms. It had really high windows so you wouldn’t be distracted by people and everything going on outside. It was great because loads of light would come in which was great for painting. It is also just moments from the sea and you could smell the sea and you knew when the tide was in. The windows were always open in the summer and it always had a lovely atmosphere and feel to it, I used to really enjoy painting there. If I paint nowadays I will usually paint in my little studio at home.

How has the Cornish way of life inspired how your business has grown?

I think the business has grown because of the people from outside of Cornwall visiting our shops and going back home and remembering where they’ve bought their cards from. Many Whistlefish shops and galleries are in the main tourist locations of Cornwall like St. Ives and Padstow, and I think this has introduced more people from all over the country to Whistlefish. Whistlefish has been in St. Ives for almost three decades now. People who love to visit Cornwall make it part of their holiday to come and visit a Whistlefish shop and that’s so lovely for us as a business.

We have a shared ethos when it comes to playing our part in protecting the planet. Can you tell us more about Whistlefish’s sustainability journey?

We recognised that sustainability was incredibly important very early on. We’ve only ever used sustainable paper for our greeting cards, even though this does cost more we still think this is very important to do. When we had the Whistlefish head office, factory and warehouse designed 11 years ago, it was purpose-built with the environment in mind; solar panels on the roof, lots of windows for natural light and motion sensor lights so energy is not wasted. We have a lovely green space outside – considering we are situated in an industrial estate – where even bird boxes have been installed in the trees and wildflowers grow to encourage nature to thrive. We have always cared about the environment and in 2020 we introduced ‘Green Matters’ which is the Whistlefish commitment to sustainability where we have set out our pledges to protect the environment. On this web page, people can find out more about our pledges such as the Plastic Free Pledge and the Printing Pledge which we uphold in all Whistlefish greeting cards. Additionally, we proudly donate to Plant 1 Cornwall, a reputable and local tree-planting company, to fulfil our Plant A Tree Pledge.

How important is it for you to ensure art is accessible and affordable for everyone?

Ever since the business started when I was hand-painting, I’ve always made the decision to sell affordable art. There were so many art galleries around that had beautiful art, but I wasn’t in the position to buy an original piece of artwork because it was too expensive. Although I loved it and think there’s a place for it, I just think it’s nice that someone can see something they like and be able to afford it for themselves or for a lovely gift for a friend. We started by creating small keepsake pictures of a landscape picture of Cornwall that we’d put into a frame, so it was like having a framed postcard of somewhere they’d been. It’s an idea that still runs through the business today.

You handpick artists to work with, from emerging to established talent. What is it you look for when selecting new works?

It’s ever-changing really, there’s no rule book I go by when selecting new artists to feature. I generally look for anything that makes me smile.

What are your top tips for selecting artwork to have at home?

My artwork is very Whistlefish, I’ve got old Gerry Plumb framed prints which are quite light- hearted and humorous, abstract landscapes by Laura Rich and I’ve also got an original Hannah Cole at home. To me, these are pieces of artwork that have stood out and I’ve kept them. I’ve got some of my favourite artists at home which are little keepsakes and mean something to me. Whenever I walk into a room at home my art makes me smile even though it’s art that I’ve had for years. That’s the advice I would give to someone looking to brighten up their home, choose art that makes you smile.

To be in with a chance to win a bespoke, Cornish Gems inspired, Whistlefish artwork and £100 gift card, plus a three-night stay for up to 8 people at Sanderling in Padstow – enter our new summer competition here.