Central & Gus
James Willoughby Red Squirrel Portrait Study
James Willoughby Red Squirrel Portrait Study
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James Willoughby Red Squirrel wanted to celebrate the birthday of his best friend in the whole wide world: Thomasin Healing Evening Grosbeak. And he wanted to give her a very special gift; one that effectively conveyed the depth of his feelings. But she was a tiny little bird, and lived in an equally tiny little nest, so there wasn’t room for anything extraneous. Her utilitarian personality only made presents more of a challenge. On top of that, the longer he knew her, as more celebratory occasions passed, the list of gift possibilities grew fewer still.
So, he thought rather than giving her a traditional gift, he’d give her nothing. Nothing she has to keep, nothing she has to clean, nothing she has to eat, nothing she has to store, nothing she has to do. Nothing.
Of course, James thinks presentation is everything, so he packaged his nothing in the biggest, roundest, most beautiful bright red balloon he could find. It must’ve been three feet around if it was an inch (as he tells it, anyway). He had it filled with helium and set on his way, quite pleased. Only a few steps into his journey, however, he got to thinking he might have made a mistake. With a few more steps, only his tippity toes were still touching the ground. Approaching halfway, he was 20 feet up, just a little panicked, and catching a bit of a breeze.
Fortunately, the big red balloon caught Thomasin’s eye and she flew out to tether him. Rather than helping him land his gift, though, she guided James and the balloon - his grip relaxing a little - around the treetops. His eyes widened and his ears pricked up taking in everything from this new perspective. To Thomasin, this really was the best gift ever…not the nothingness but, through the unexpected experience, that he is able to know her deeper and understand her better. Being truly known by someone is such a beautiful feeling and, for that, she loved him all the more.
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Portrait Study, 8x10”, 9x12”, or 11x14" in protective cello. Each Portrait Study is accompanied by a whimsical tale of the animal featured. Entirely collectible, the stories intertwine, creating a much-loved community of characters. We print on a luxurious 318 gsm, 100% cotton paper. Soft and durable, this paper showcases crisp detail and vibrant colour.
We donate a portion of gross sales to animal welfare.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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They are — and that's one of the things that makes Central & Gus so unique. Every character lives in the same universe. They know each other, reference each other, cross paths at the switchboard, in the woods, at the patisserie, on the road. Collecting them is a little like reading a novel one chapter at a time — except each chapter fits on your wall or popped in the post for a stamp to someone you love.
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We spent a long time on this. Every Central & Gus illustration is hand-drawn in pencil — and so we are eternally inspired by the classic #2, enrobed in that particular shade of yellow. For that, we call it Ticonderoga Harvest. Studies on colour and emotion find that people associate this shade with joy — which felt exactly right. It also nods, quietly, to our farm roots, everything that grows out of the land, and also to a less tangible but just as important creative harvest. The envelope is not an afterthought. It is part of the story.
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They are extraordinary gifts — and we say that not as a boast but as something we hear constantly from our retail partners and customers. A Central & Gus card is not a card you send and forget. It is a card the recipient reads, re-reads, frames, or keeps in a drawer to return to. The story on the back transforms it from a greeting into a small, meaningful object. We have heard from one customer who had special date-day trips with his young daughter, each time choosing one special card for her coveted collection. The goldenrod envelope alone tends to stop people in their tracks. Another, a fiance purchased the entire set for his partner, a reminder of a day they spotted them in a shop and giggled while reading the stories aloud. These are not cards. They are moments, saved.
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Wholeheartedly yes — and the characters seem to know instinctively which age they are speaking to. Children are drawn to the illustrations, the names, the animals. Adults read the stories and find themselves unexpectedly moved. We regularly hear from customers who frame them in nurseries and living rooms alike, who give them to grandparents and grandchildren in the same gesture. The world of Central & Gus does not have an age. It has a sensibility — and that sensibility tends to recognise itself across generations.
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Yes — and we love that you asked. We offer curated collections and themed bundles. Our Open Water & Coastal set, our Woodland & Hedgerow set, our Wetland & Waterway, or our Start Your Collection bundle are all wonderful entry points. And for those that just wantall of themat once, The Whole Gang brings every character home together at a saving. Bundles make particularly wonderful gifts — there is something about receiving a community of characters at once that feels genuinely special.
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We do — and this is at the heart of everything we do. A portion of every gross sale goes directly to animal welfare. The characters you collect are not just whimsical illustrations — they are advocates. Every purchase is a small act of care for the natural world and the creatures in it. We are deeply grateful for every order that makes this possible.