Our Story
Shoal began as two separate illustration studios in 2015, Oh Plesiosaur (run by Serena) and Natelle Draws Stuff (run by Natelle). After many years in business and countless collaborations with each other, we decided to join forces, channeling our mutual love of nature and art into a single studio.
We strive to capture beauty, playfulness, and wit in our products, which have been featured in magazines and books, purchased by our wonderful customers, and stocked in shops around the world.
We’re a tiny operation with big dreams. We design new items together, then inspect, package, and ship them from our sunny Oregon studio, using sustainable materials whenever possible. We also run fundraising efforts throughout the year, contributing to a wide variety of environmental and human rights organizations.
Shoal is supervised by Frida, Patch, Echo, and Zuul (pictured below), whose rigorous work ethic and meticulous attention to detail inspire us all.
Illustrator + Owner
Serena Epstein
Hey, I'm Serena! I'm a UX designer & researcher, ex-librarian, succulent aficionado, and dinosaur enthusiast. Running Shoal is the most wonderful job I've ever had. In addition to designing products, I pack and ship orders, answer customer emails, goof off on Instagram… and do all the boring paperwork.
I live in a tiny seaside Portuguese village with a gang of street cats and some very impolite snails. I love quiet afternoons with the sun streaming in the studio window, listening to the sound of the ocean, while I draw new designs. Illustration fills up my heart, and I hope it’ll fill up yours, too.
Illustrator + Manager
Natelle Quek
Hi, I'm Natelle! I am an illustrator currently based in London, where I make art and help run Shoal. I design products, manage our social media, and supervise wholesale accounts! I hope that my illustrations will bring smiles to people's faces for many years to come.
When I'm not designing or working, I enjoy crafting, eating pastries, going on hikes, spying on birds, watching movies with my family, and cuddling animals. I live with my partner, James, and our two hilariously weird pets; cat overlord Patch and dopey dog Frida.
