Jennifer Toombs: International Stamp Artist

The BBC reports a British artist, who has designed postage stamps for nations around the world since 1965, still dreams of designing stamps for her own country.

According to the article, "Jennifer Toombs started her career in 1965, when she designed a stamp to mark the death of Winston Churchill. Her work was not selected by the Royal Mail, but Jennifer has gone on to hand-draw stamps for over 50 countries."

Jennifer is quoted in the piece as saying, ""To design for the Royal Mail would be the cherry on the top. I'm happy to tackle anything that's going."

While Queen Elizabeth has approved four stamps Jennifer designed to mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, they're for the Pitcairn Islands not Great Britain. However, she does design Royal Mail's first-day covers and cards.

"I get sent the blank covers with the stamps on and have to do a hand-painted design at the side to blend in with the stamps," Jennifer said.

These covers have become highly collectible and are described as 'Toombsiana' according to the article.

Shown above, Jennifer Toombs looking at some of the first stamps she ever designed.

To read the entire article, click here.