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2010

 
 

Born from creativity and a commitment to family tradition

 

TOM MARTIN began as the ambitious project of 16-year-old Tom while still in school. Inspired by a desire to carry forward a cherished family tradition of gifting a keepsake bauble each Christmas, Tom embarked on a year-long journey of design and sourcing. The result was the debut of the brand’s first ornament, an elegant piece that remains Untitled to this day. Unveiled at midnight on December 1 2010, only 100 hand-painted decorations were painted.

 

Untitled, 2010

 
 
 
 

2011

 
 
 

A private commission for a Military MBE

In our early days, TOM MARTIN had the privilege of creating a custom one-off design to commemorate the receipt of a Military Division MBE. The ceremony was held at Windsor Castle and the award gifted by Her Majesty The Queen. 

The bauble depicted Windsor Castle and The Long Walk, with a representation of the Military MBE painted on the reverse.

 
 
 
 

TOM MARTIN join Not on The High Street

In September 2011, in time for the release of the second design of our Winter Collection, TOM MARTIN became a Partner on Not On The High Street, a website which helped with the introduction of many of our first-time customers. 

 
 

The watercolour painting used to announce us joining Not on The High Street

 
 
 

2012-2015

 
 
 

The quieter years

Four years at university brought quieter seasons for TOM MARTIN. Amid rooms overflowing with boxes and ribbons, the obligatory desk textbook sat strategically hidden beneath the trappings of creativity. TOM MARTIN came alive each winter, an illuminated ball of energy, only to retreat into hibernation as spring’s daffodils began to bloom.

 
 
 

2016

 
 
 

April 2016

A new chapter at TOM MARTIN

In April 2016, TOM MARTIN embarked on an exciting new journey, parting ways with Not On The High Street after more than four successful years. This pivotal moment marked the relaunch of our brand identity and the introduction of our own dedicated website.

This step allowed us to refine our focus, embracing our core ethos with renewed vigor. It also provided the opportunity to further elevate the craftsmanship and intricate detailing that have become hallmarks of the TOM MARTIN brand.

 
 
 
 

JUNE 2016

Summer arrives to TOM MARTIN

In honor of Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday, TOM MARTIN proudly unveiled a special limited-edition bauble titled Celebration Ready. This summer-inspired design captured the essence of The Patron's Lunch, the largest street party ever held on The Mall in St James’s Park, London. The grand celebration took place on Sunday, June 12th, bringing together a nation in festive spirit.

 
 

‘Celebration Ready’, 2016

 
 
 
 

For Winter 2016, TOM MARTIN opened its first pop-up shop on the Kings Road, Chelsea

 
 

2018

 
 
 

SPRING 2018

The Dawn and Dusk No. 1 Candles

As spring began, we unveil a brand-new product—our very first venture beyond our signature hanging gifts: the Dawn and Dusk No. 1 scented candles.

Handcrafted in London, these two exquisite home candles bring unique stories to life. Dawn celebrates the fresh, fragrant essence of a British morning, while Dusk captures the sensuality and mystery of twilight. With a spiced aroma laced with the vibrant notes of pomegranate and pepper, Dusk evokes the allure of a setting sun over a dusky landscape.

 
 

NOVEMBER 2018

Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market

In November 2018, TOM MARTIN brought a touch of magic to the renowned Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, adorning the event with a signature palette of purple and white.

 
 
 
 
 

2019

 
 
 

october 2019

TOM MARTIN becomes official bauble maker for The Snowman

TOM MARTIN teamed up with one of the nation’s favourite Christmas tales, The Snowman™, in a three-year, worldwide license agreement. Our House brought this cherished story to life with a collection of truely special hand-painted baubles, crafted to capture the magic and nostalgia of the festive season.

 
 

DECEMBER 2019

We’re return to Winchester

For Christmas 2019, we returned to the iconic Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, unveiling our enchanting Winter Lodge pop-up.

 
 
 
 
 

2020

 
 

OUR 10TH BIRTHDAY

Marking a decade: The release of our new logo

The year 2020 marked our 10th anniversary, a milestone we had hoped to celebrate alongside the people who made the past decade so special. While the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic meant those plans couldn’t come to fruition, we found another way to honor this momentous occasion.

We proudly unveiled a new logo—a design that tells the story of our beginnings, reflects our artistic journey so far, and symbolises the creative foundation of our future.

 
 

THE YEAR OF COVID-19

Exciting New Collaborations Through Our Bespoke Service

As part of our Bespoke service, we were thrilled to welcome back Claridge’s Hotel, alongside exciting new clients such as Annabel’s, Harry’s Bar and Harvey Nichols. These distinguished names challenged us to create a truly unique bespoke gift as part of their Christmas offering.

 
 

SEPTEMBER 2020

We Launch The Landmark Collection

In September, TOM MARTIN proudly launched The Landmark Collection, a new series of inside-painted baubles. Featuring iconic architectural landmarks from around the globe, each bauble celebrates the memories of travel. A plum-coloured hot air balloon is thoughtfully placed in every piece, symbolising the spirit of adventure and exploration.

 
 

The Paris Bauble, part of The Landmark Collection, 2020

 
 
 

2021

 
 
 

A NEW BAUBLE COLLECTION

We Launch The Continent Collection

TOM MARTIN unveil The Continent Collection, a new range featuring six unique designs. In collaboration with illustrator Elizabeth Halladay, we explore the diverse continents of the world, celebrating the playful animals that inhabit their iconic landscapes.

 
 
 
 

BESPOKE

Our Bespoke service expanded into Europe and North America

Our Bespoke service travels to new shores to bring our unique, handcrafted creations to even more clients.

 
 
 

The Carlyle, New York

Using artwork drawn by Becky Donnelly for the 2021 annual calendar, we painted The Carlyle’s first inside-painted bauble. 

The artwork depicted a magical, snow-laden New York scene with the hotel towering in the background.

© Becky Donnelly, 2021

 
 

BESPOKE

Belmond Hotels

In collaboration with Belmond Italy and artist and illustrator Clorophilla, we created a luxurious series of inside-painted baubles, accompanied by custom-made gift boxes, for eight Belmond properties across Italy and Spain.

Presented as signature gifts by Belmond hotels, the collection sparked significant interest across social media and within each hotel. The recipients were delighted with these lasting mementos, which beautifully captured the magic of their unforgettable experiences, offering a reminder of cherished moments away from home.

 
 
 
 

Sandy Lane, Barbados

Barbados’ prestigious Sandy Lane Hotel approached us to create a signature gift for their resident guests over Christmas and New Year, as well as a limited-edition product for their on-site boutique.

Inspired by the vibrant surroundings of the hotel, including the iconic pink parasols lining their private beach, we crafted a bauble that encapsulates the spirit of a Caribbean Christmas. This stunning piece will forever serve as a treasured reminder of the unforgettable moments spent in paradise.

 

We welcomed back old friends and opened our arms to new

In 2021, our Bespoke service proudly welcomed back Claridge’s and The Cadogan Hotel, alongside a host of exciting new collaborations with distinguished clients.

 
 
 
 

2022

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Introducing The Studio

Design and artwork have always been at the core of our work. In January 2022, we launched The Studio—a dedicated entity separate from our retail endeavours. Located at the heart of everything we do, The Studio drives both internal projects and collaborations with our clients. Here, we harness our creative magic to craft authentic stories, innovative products, and meaningful experiences, both in-person and digital.

 
 

MARCH 2022

Introducing Inside-painted Easter Eggs

In 2022, we introduced a beautiful hand-blown egg shape to our collection, painted with the same signature inside-painting technique that defines our brand.

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons created a special Easter edition of their beloved Christmas ornament, featuring a springtime depiction of the hotel. These exquisite eggs were gifted to visiting guests and also served as part of the hotel’s Easter floristry, adding a unique touch to the seasonal décor.

Glass inside-painted Easter egg ornament painted for Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, 2022

JUNE 2022

The Platinum Jubilee of
HM Queen Elizabeth II

2022 marked the poignant Platinum Jubilee of the late HM Queen Elizabeth II and we were very proud to have designed and painted a commemorative decoration to mark the historic event. A limited edition, individual work of art, made to be treasured for the next 70 years and beyond.

 
 
 
 

JUNE 2022

A New Dawn & Dusk candle duo, No. 2

In mid-summer, our shop proudly introduced the reimagined Dawn & Dusk candles. A refined version of our original duo, this new set features 300 grams of soy wax infused with essential oils, creating two refined scents.

Poured into custom stone-textured tumblers, each candle carries a mantra etched along the inside edge - a tribute to our founding art form of inside painting.

 
 
 

Harrods X TM

TOM MARTIN collaborated with the world-renowned retailer Harrods to create a collection of signature baubles for their festive season. The three baubles were made as part of their Signature festive range and depicted the London skyline overlooking the dome of the Brompton Road flagship, the Knightsbridge store adorned in their famous illuminations painted with gold paint and their annual 2022 Christmas bear, Louie.

 
 

We welcome more friends to Bespoke

 

NOVEMBER 2022

The Studio Creates Lunn’s Jewellers 2022 Christmas Advert

Building on the bauble artwork for Lunn’s 2022 Christmas decoration, The Studio transformed their festive narrative into a 45-second Christmas advert. The story follows a family of robins flying from one Lunn’s boutique to the next across Ireland, ultimately arriving at the flagship store to decorate the building with a red bow - an iconic adornment that graced the store for the Christmas season.

Watch the advert

 
 
 
 

2023

 
 
 
 

A gift to launch South Korean brand B-RÓDIAN

TOM MARTIN designed a limited edition of baubles to mark the launch of the South Korean clothing brand B-RÓDIAN. These exclusive decorations were showcased as part of an art installation at the launch event, offering a lasting memento of this special occasion.

 
 
 

MARCH 2022

TOM MARTN celebrates the largest year for Bespoke, surpassing more than 45,000 baubles painted

The British Airways First bauble, 2023