Brooke Marie Greeting Cards

The story behind the brand

Finding joy in the little things

Inspired by nature, the changing seasons and everyday moments, Brooke Marie creates beautiful watercolour illustrations that celebrate the simple things in life.

Brooke Marie, illustrator and founder, East Yorkshire

Painting since 2019 · East Yorkshire

Meet Brooke

Brooke is the self-taught watercolour illustrator behind Brooke Marie, working from her family farm in East Yorkshire.

A mum, farmer's wife and self-confessed tea and coffee addict, Brooke finds inspiration in the everyday things that make life special. Countryside walks, gardening, family life, muddy adventures with the dogs and finding a quiet moment with her paints.

Her journey into illustration began in April 2019, when she picked up watercolours while looking for a creative outlet. She had no formal training, but after a friend asked her to paint some dogs, she began sharing her illustrations online, and things gradually took off.

What started as a way to rediscover her confidence and enjoy doing something creative has grown into an independent business, with Brooke involved in everything from designing and printing to packaging and posting orders.

There's something lovely about how much of her personality comes through in her work. A little humour, a love of nature and a genuine appreciation for finding joy in the simple things.

Behind the illustrations

Painting the seasons

Every Brooke Marie illustration begins by hand, using pencil, ink and watercolour.

Inspired by the countryside and changing seasons, Brooke's artwork captures everything from garden birds and familiar animals to flowers and the quieter moments of everyday life.

Her style has evolved since she first began painting in 2019. Earlier illustrations often combined pen and ink sketches with watercolour, while her newer work is created primarily with watercolour alone.

She particularly enjoys painting on textured cotton paper, which gives her illustrations their distinctive rustic finish and a little touch of whimsy.

Behind the artwork is a simple idea: celebrating the natural world and creating paper goods that bring a little warmth, nostalgia and connection to everyday life.

Her collection

Thoughtful cards, full of character

Brooke's illustrated greeting cards bring her original watercolour artwork to life on beautifully chosen papers.

Her card ranges include textured 300gsm FSC-certified cardstock and 350gsm recycled straw card, with natural finishes that complement the illustrations.

The cards are printed in the UK and presented with kraft envelopes and Brooke Marie's distinctive finishing details.

Sustainability is also important to Brooke. She makes an effort to use recycled materials, minimise unnecessary packaging and favour plastic-free alternatives wherever possible.

At Plainly Does It, we've brought together a selection of her characterful animal illustrations and seasonal greeting cards, each chosen for its individual charm.

The Plainly connection

Why we've chosen Brooke Marie

When I started Plainly Does It, one of the things that mattered most to me was supporting independent businesses and sharing the people and stories behind their products.

Brooke's illustrations immediately caught my eye, but it was learning more about the person behind them that made her business feel like such a lovely fit.

I love that she's built something from doing what makes her happy, without losing sight of the everyday things that matter most to her. Her work has so much character, and her appreciation for nature, family life and thoughtful design really appealed to me.

When my first order arrived, that care came through in the presentation of the cards and the handwritten note she'd included. It's those little personal touches that make shopping with independent businesses feel special.

As another Yorkshire business, I'm really pleased to be showcasing Brooke's illustrations alongside our own designs and introducing her work to Plainly's customers.