This store was born from our search to find artwork for our own home that matched our literary spirits. We wanted artwork that celebrated our favourite stories.
That’s why you will find a ‘The Story’ narrative for each of our items, as we are keen to take time to share the story of how our items reflect the themes and feelings of their texts.
We’re not just book lovers, but story celebrators. And we invite you to join us!
Our prints are now featured decor in institutions like the University of York and have been welcomed into homes across the world.
Based in York, the Beyond the Shelf team is made up of two Northern creatives simply trying to find the time to read.
Emma is most likely to be found browsing new fonts and colour palettes. She is torn between creating bookish designs, attempting her own writing, embroidery, and whatever other passion projects she can squeeze in.
Aidan is most likely to be found making tiny changes to our descriptions he knows no one will notice. A pure self-indulgence framed as 100% necessary. One must imagine him happy.
Have a read of our store favourites ↓
Our Shop Favourites
Emma's Top Pick
Jane Eyre Watercolour
Hailing from Yorkshire myself, my favourite print is bound to be that of Jane stood amongst the Yorkshire moors. Those moors saw her spiritual development; the mix of harsh clouds in her eyeline, with a path of light breaking the sky, feels like an apt representation of that for me. I feel an overall sense of magnitude with this design.
I also adore the subtitle we paired with this one: Unearthly Thing. While 'unearthly' comes with a range of connotations, I choose to take it as otherworldly, enigmatic, and a force of nature. Something to aspire to!
Aidan's Top Pick
Frankenstein Title Page
The shared horror in the eyes of both monster and maker drips with the existential themes of the work. When paired with the quote we get a sense of these moments of wild-eyed breaking that come with great change which force us to examine both the past and the future with a new perspective - nothing was, or will be the same.
Simply, it nails the representation of the Frankenstein story. The Modern Prometheus inclusion and elegant-retro science flourish beneath the title are also nice touches - if I do say so myself.