Take a tour of our new website!

11 May 2021

We've been busy behind the scenes here at the Hive, preparing for the launch of our brand new website - and it's finally here! So, what's new?

Well...you've probably noticed that we have a whole new look! The very talented Anna Hancock has been working with us to develop a new brand, incorporating a fresh new colour palette and some sweet characters you'll find dotted around the site. We've kept the navigation simple and the format nice and large, so we can show off our fabulous illustrators' work really clearly. In addition, we have a cute new logo bee created by Chloe Evans! You might have seen him before if you've been lucky enough to receive one of our exclusive tote bags in the past - we loved him so much, we just couldn't resist giving him a permanent home on the site.

But it's not all about looks - oh no, we have some fresh features to share with you, too! Here's a round up of the shiny new content around the site.

Self publishing

We've always felt passionate about helping budding children's writers make their publishing ambitions a reality, and our new, dedicated self-publishing guide is here to do just that. It can be daunting knowing where to start, so our step-by-step guide can give authors an overview of the process before committing. If you decide self-publishing is for you - great! We're also on hand to advise clients more specifically about the journey, with the help of our trusted professional editors and designers. And, of course, not forgetting those all-important illustrators! The team here will be able to share a wealth of knowledge with you about the illustration process and help you all the way from briefing to to receiving those beautiful final illustrations for your book. If you'd like to find out more, have a look at our guide and get in touch!

Under the Cover

As well as helping clients with projects that are just starting out, we now also have a space to share our favourite recently published books! Come 'Under the Cover' with us, looking behind-the-scenes at a title we're particularly proud of. Featuring conversation with the editors, authors, and illustrators, we're aiming to give you a glimpse of the various facets of the illustration process, from character design to the artists' favourite (and perhaps even least favourite) elements of their day job! Keep an eye on The Buzz for all the latest articles, and lots of other news from the Hive.

Collections

Our 'Collections' are carefully curated to present a selection of the very best portfolio work from our artists, following a particular theme or style. They aim to give any website visitors and prospective clients an instant look at the artwork portfolios which are most relevant to their needs, and to inspire them with the talent we have on offer here at the Hive. To coincide with the launch of the new website, we've added some more key collections and refreshed the current selections. They'll be regularly updated with fresh new portfolio work, so keep a look out!

Charity initiatives

Rewarding our loyal clients has been an important part of Beehive for a long time, but now we're keen to stretch our rewards a little further! We'll be continuing our Honey Points reward scheme, offering clients online retailer vouchers for larger commissions, but we'll also be donating £2 to a charity of your choice for every commission placed! Don't forget to let us know which charity you'd like to support here.

We really hope you'll enjoy exploring the new site, and as always, we're always interested to hear any feedback!