About Hazel

Hello, I’m Hazel. I draw cards for people who aren’t into the overly sentimental stuff.

Hazel Bee started with a sketchbook, everyday observations, and an enjoyment in the realisation they made people laugh.

While studying Illustration, I spent most of my time doodling... and at house parties- mostly capturing awkward moments, ridiculous conversations, and the random things that made friends laugh.

Eventually, those drawings turned into a small card collection. They went from a shoebox in my room, to a local gift shop, and over time, grew into a business. What started as a way to make my friends laugh kept expanding.

From sketchbook to card rack

I’ve been self-publishing Hazel Bee cards since 2008.

Hundreds of designs later, the process hasn't changed. Every illustration starts in my sketchbook, is drawn by me, and is then digitised for printing. Over the years the humour has stayed the same—resolutely unsensible.

Hazel Bee is inspired by ordinary life, relationships, and all the slightly ridiculous moments in between. The humour is dry, occasionally dark, sometimes mocking, and self-deprecating.

It’s made for times when you love someone so much, but you’d still rather make them snort with laughter than send them a card covered in hearts and cheesy lines.

Funny shouldn't have to mean throwaway

Making people laugh matters to me.

So does making stuff in a way I can feel good about.

Hazel Bee cards are printed here in the UK using recycled, sustainable card stock and vegetable-based inks. The packaging is 100% compostable and the whole range is plastic-free, including orders sent to my wholesale customers.

Knowing that I am sending so many pieces of card out into the world, it is important to me to be responsible for what they are made of and what happens to the packaging afterward.

Still independent. Still drawing. Still packing the orders.

Hazel Bee is still a one-woman business, run from my home studio.

I draw the designs, develop the ideas and pack the orders myself.

It's me, a lot of drawings and, considerably more cardboard boxes than I ever imagined owning when that first shoebox went into a gift shop.

A hand drawing a smiling cartoon character in black ink on white paper

Over the years Hazel Bee cards have travelled far beyond that original shop, including across the Atlantic to customers in the USA, Europe & beyond.

But the idea behind them hasn't really changed.

Make cards responsibly. Keep them independent. And most importantly, make people laugh.

Preferably uncontrollably.