Ali is very pleased to be working with her family again to bring back ‘Tilseds’, the historic art and stationery brand that started in 1880 in her home town of Wimborne Minster.
This new collaboration sees Tilseds now have an online presence, bringing artists carefully curated materials that have quality and sustainability at their forefront.
Please explore our stock and get in touch if there is something you would like to see us add to the brand.
The History of Tilseds
In approximately 1880, the Tilsed family established a printing and stationery business in Wimborne Minster, Dorset and it passed through four generations before two sisters, with no one to carry on the name, sold it to a local printing company. After further passing to different owners, Ali’s father Mike began working there in 1969 and then he, and Ali’s mum Liz, purchased it in 1984.
As the name of the business was associated with stationery and art materials of such quality, they didn’t change it and Ali joined them full-time in 1992, expanding the business and eventually owning a branch herself in the early 2000s.
When the family decided to leave the world of high street retail in 2009, they made the decision to keep the name rather than sell it, thinking that one day they may wish to do something else with it.
It turns out, that was a great decision and they are now excited to be occupying an online presence to bring Tilseds into the 21st century.
Our mission:
To provide quality art materials, sourced or produced by experts in the industry for over forty years.
As a small business, to work alongside companies that share our principles to provide a first-class service.
To always have a sustainable practice at the forefront of what we do, using biodegradable, recycled or recyclable products wherever possible, or to strive to improve our service in this direction.
To offer advice and our experience of working with specific materials in order that our customers purchase the right equipment for their creative expression.
A quick word regarding postage…
We are a family business and therefore we cannot afford to send you your items free of charge, we wish we could.
We charge a fair rate of postage that takes into account the time it takes to process your order and make sure it is safely packaged and shipped off to you, all with a personal service.
We aim to look after you, answer your queries and provide you with quality products, many of which are handmade by us as a team.
We hope you understand.
If you are a local customer, you are welcome to select ‘Collection’ at the checkout and arrange a mutually convenient time to pick up your materials.