The story behind INK & THISTLE

Meet Marian Ashcroft.

A patient hand, an open page and one mark worth noticing.

Founder & writer, INK & THISTLE

I began with a pen that caught on the paper and a bottle of ink I was almost afraid to open.

Marian Ashcroft, founder of INK & THISTLE, seated at her desk by the window with ink, paper and a dried thistle
Marian AshcroftFounder & writer
The first pages

The first page was uneven. I kept both.

Page oneUneven.The nib caught, the ink pooled, the line wandered.
Page twoDarker where my hand had hesitated.You could see every pause in the ink.

What drew me back was not the promise of perfect writing. It was the small pause before each mark: looking, breathing and deciding how much pressure the next line needed.

A few quiet minutes at the table could make an ordinary word feel newly considered.

The small pause before each mark

Looking. Breathing. Deciding.

  • 01Lookingat the page, the last line and the space that is left.
  • 02Breathingbefore the nib touches the paper.
  • 03Decidinghow much pressure the next line needs.

Not the promise of perfect writing. Just the next line, noticed properly.

Over time

Loose sheets, letter families and tiny pencil layouts.

  • SHEETSFilled with strokes, one movement at a time.
  • FAMILIESLetters grouped by the shapes they share.
  • LAYOUTSTiny pencil plans before any ink.

Botanical books gathered beside them.

Why the botanical plates

I liked the way those old plates made room for close observation, and wanted the guides to feel the same.

  • a stem
  • a curve
  • a change in weight
The same attention that a botanical illustrator gives a leaf is the attention a letter asks for.
Each stage its own place

First the tools. Then the movements. Then an alphabet. Finally, words worth keeping.

INK & THISTLE gives each stage its own place. Each guide combines calm explanation, visual examples and short exercises, with space to practise at your own pace.

BeginThe Modern Calligraphy Starter Book

First the tools.

PractiseThe Essential Strokes Workbook

Then the movements.

BuildThe Alphabet Style Library

Then an alphabet that works together.

ComposeWords Worth Writing

Finally, words arranged into something you might keep or give away.

Begin. Practise. Build. Compose. Begin with a mark. Build something meaningful.

Marian Ashcroft practising strokes with an oblique pen at her wooden desk
At the deskMarian Ashcroft
Before you begin

You do not need a beautiful hand before you begin.

You do not need

  • A beautiful hand.
  • A perfect first page.
  • A drawer full of supplies.

You need

  • A page.
  • A few suitable tools.
  • Enough patience to notice the next line.
Marian AshcroftFounder & writer · INK & THISTLE
What will your first mark become?

Begin with a mark. Build something meaningful.

Start with the tools, return to one essential movement or plan the words you already want to write.

Explore the guides

Begin. Practise. Build. Compose.