About Us

I caught the sewing bug from my Mum and Grandma. I was absolutely fascinated by how clothes could be constructed from a length of fabric and the love affair began. Some of my earliest memories are of standing on a chair whilst my mum made hems on homemade dresses - "Watch the pins!" - "Stand straight!". My Sindy had the best wardrobe collection in town and my aspirations of becoming a fashion designer to Lady Diana were born.

After A-Levels I dreamed of buying a one way ticket to Paris where I would be instantly snapped up by a leading fashion house..... instead the spare room of my parents' home was where I set up my own dressmaking and alteration business specialising in wedding dresses.

Then 'Casualty', a brand new cutting edge medical drama, burst onto our screens and rather bizarrely I decided to become a nurse. I shut up shop, moved away and had a ball.

15 years, one husband and two children later I was working in A&E with the medical advisor to 'Casualty', and ended up in a couple of episodes as 'Nurse in background who really does look like she knows what she's doing'! The circle was complete and it was time to follow the original dream.

In 2006 I set up on the kitchen table and made some children's pictures, some 1950s vintage inspired pictures and some bunting while my youngest had his afternoon nap. 'Catherine Colebrook' was born.

Orders were immediate and I soon joined notonthehighstreet.com (a brilliant website for small businesses). By the end of 2006, The Art Group had approached me to produce several ranges of cards for worldwide sale. Commissions for prints from Habitat and Laura Ashley followed.

By Summer 2008 I had launched my homewares range of aprons, tea towels and bags and 2009 brings the excitement of a brand new sparkling website (thanks Bro xx), a childrenswear collection and the introduction of cushions, prints and (soon) mugs.

I am absolutely passionate about supporting British business - our tea towels are screen printed in Wales, the mugs are produced by a great family company in Scotland and our aprons are made in Nottinghamshire with all textile printing and sewing done in-house.