For this month’s Retailer Of The Month, we wanted to share with you two very special bespoke projects that Victoria designed for two very special retailers; the Abbey Road gift shop, and the Royal Albert Hall gift shop.
It was announced this month that both designs have been shortlisted for the Gift of the Year Awards 2024 in the Heritage Gifts incorporating Commemorative, Collectable and Charitable category.
Working closely with teams at both Abbey Road and the Royal Albert Hall, Victoria was able to bring to life beautiful bespoke designs that perfectly encapsulate the essence of each iconic London landmark.
Abbey Road Christmas
An intricate and detailed Christmas design which includes an Easter Egg hunt about the incredible history and significance of Abbey Road Studios.
The illustration hosts a number of Easter Eggs relating to artists from Abbey Road’s history, including a reference to The Dark Side of The Moon, Chris Rea in the back of the cab driving home for Christmas, reindeer decked in The Beatles HELP! scarves, 10 hidden EMI tape reels and more. Can you spot them all?
Having visited this London landmark many times as a child, Victoria couldn't be more thrilled to bring such an exciting project to life. Victoria first visited the studios aged just 4 years old and grew up in a house where music filled the rooms... the sounds of The Beetles, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and Eric Clapton. Music was, and continues to be, a huge part of her life.
Victoria visited the store in December and was amazed at the product display and the illustrations adorning the shop. Individual elements from the intricate design have been enlarged and placed around the store creating a festive atmosphere.
“It was a proud moment seeing my drawings come to life.”
The Abbey Road Studios are an integral part of the physical and musical landscape of London. Top talent has been born in its hallowed halls — from Pink Floyd to Florence + The Machine and, of course, the infamous Beatles. Even the zebra crossing by the studios gained notoriety, with hundreds visiting the location every day, thanks to The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” album cover. The studio has a long history of creative and technological pioneering, creating a whole new name for radio and recording.
The studio first opened its doors in 1931 and was the first of its kind — the world’s first purpose-built recording studio — under the name of EMI Recording Studios. Though their infamy has become synonymous with that of The Beatles, who auditioned and were signed with EMI Recording Studios in 1962, the studios have so much more history and depth to offer if you just dig into it a bit more. In 1937, the studios recorded the coronation of King George VI, using a private telephone line and a feed from the Westminster Abbey BBC control room. During World War II, the studios remained open and became an integral form of entertainment for the troops. Continuing the recording tradition, the studios record the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The ever-popular Beatles’ album “Abbey Road” was released in 1969, and in 1970, following the infamy of the album and the road, the EMI Recording Studios officially renamed themselves as Abbey Road Studios. Throughout the years, bands such as Pink Floyd and Radiohead, and artists like Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and Frank Ocean, have recorded in the studios.
With so much history and accomplishments under its belt, Victoria Eggs is proud to have created a special design exclusively for the studios. The intricately hand-drawn design features many details unique to the history and significance of Abbey Road Studios, creating a musical scavenger hunt across its stokes.
The collection is available exclusively from Abbey Road Studios and includes a bauble, mug, tea towel, apron, stocking, oven mitt, pot grab, coaster, magnet, tea and biscuits.
Royal Albert Hall Bees
This delicately illustrated design was inspired by the beehives which are kept on the roof of the Royal Albert Hall, an innovation to promote sustainability, and support the local bee population.
The honey produced by the bees is known for its distinctive taste, which is a result of the diverse range of flowers and plants in the surrounding area which are featured in this design. The delicious tasting honey is harvested in the Autumn and is sold in jars as a souvenir.
The design brief was to create a range that brought attention to the little known fact that bees were kept on the roof of the hall. An intricately hand-drawn selection of local bee friendly flowers explode out of this iconic building, whilst bees zigzag through the air, leaving trails of pollen. The doorways have been transformed into giant gold beehives, buzzing with life, as hydrangeas spill out onto the ground. A small table selling jars of honey sits in the foreground, whilst one of the resident beekeepers is tending to the hives.
Printed in black with elegant gold detailing, the range is a truly stunning representation of one of the most iconic buildings in London. Available in this collection; a fine bone china mug, ½ pint jug, bauble and egg cup, greeting card with gold foiling, magnet, 100% tea towel, apron and canvas bag.
Every product is lovingly made in the UK using the finest British craftsmanship, resulting in a beautiful blend of heritage and contemporary design.
For more information about Victoria Eggs bespoke please contact info@victoriaeggs.com