Tom’s Studio: innovative and sustainable calligraphy pens

There are many reasons why people start businesses, but the story of Tom Gyr founding Tom’s Studio in 2016 is surely one of the loveliest. Having watched his wife Gemma use a plastic mass-produced pen for her breathtakingly beautiful calligraphy, he set out to create something more befitting his wife’s talent and creativity. ‘Why shouldn’t the tools that artists use be made with the same flair and ingenuity that’s applied to their own work?’ he questions. ‘That was the starting point for my business.’

Tom's first pen was made for his wife Gemma, and uses brass and mint coloured Corian. (Image: Supplied by Tom Gyr)) With a background in furniture and product design, which he studied at university, as well as the experience of working in a blacksmith's forge, Tom had plenty of practical skills to draw on. He made his first pen from Corian (a mix of transparent acrylic resin and natural minerals) and brass on his father-in-law’s 1960s Myford Engineering lathe, which was in his garage. When he posted a photo of this pen on Instagram, Tom instantly got his first order and word soon spread among calligraphers.

Gemma and Tom Gyr in their Dorset studio. (Image: camillaarnholdphotography.com) After six months of working weekends and evenings, still from his father-in-law’s garage, Tom left his full-time job as a graphic designer for tech start-ups and moved with Gemma from London to Dorset. This is where he founded Tom’s Studio with just £700, which was used to buy materials, equipment and a tiny workshop.

For the first five years, Tom focused solely on calligraphy pens. ‘I learnt a lot about how to make a tool that felt wonderful to use,’ he says. ‘Because everything was handmade, I could iteratively change and tweak my designs to improve them.’ Throughout this time, any profits he made were ploughed back into the burgeoning business. And Gemma, a keen calligrapher since the age of 12, was on hand to rigorously test any new designs. By 2020, she had joined the business, bringing her expertise as a wedding stationery designer. Since then, their product line has expanded beyond calligraphy pens.

Kirstie's calligraphy using one of Tom's pens. (Image: Supplied by Tom Gyr) After discovering that over 100-billion disposable pens have been manufactured since they were first designed, Tom started a project called the ‘Creative Refill-ution’: ‘It was a rallying call against single-use disposable pens,’ he explains. ‘I’m committed to designing and making products that are refillable and will last a lifetime of use. In our disposable culture, we have lost the ‘soul’ of the things we use. I make my products with the intention that they will be used every day, treasured for the rest of your life and passed on to your grandkids.’

Whether you’re after a calligraphy pen, fineliner, fountain pen or mechanical pencil, Tom’s Studio has them all in a variety of sizes, styles and colours. His bestseller, The Lumos, is designed for artists. It has a refillable fineliner and brush pen that comes with 11 professional artists tips.

The Lumos, this model is in rose gold, is Tom's bestseller. (Image: Supplied by Tom Gyr)) ’I received lots of useful feedback about The Lumos,’ says Tom. ‘One of which was that people really enjoyed the writing tips but didn’t necessarily need the other tips offered. So, I’ve just designed a pocket-friendly writing pen called The Wren. It works in the same way as The Lumos, so you can refill with any ink colour, and it has one very lovely tip which is perfect for writing.’ ⁠This new product, which Tom describes as ‘A Pen for Life’, will be out in time for Christmas at a very pocket friendly price of £35.

Tom's latest creation The Wren writing pen. (Image: Supplied by Tom Gyr)) The website offers accessories such as nibs and tips, colourful inks, pen holders and rests, journals and notebooks, pen grips and calligraphy sets. All are aesthetically appealing, functional and beautifully packaged.

Tom’s Studio products are now sold at world-class retailers such as Harrods, and they are used by some of the world’s finest artists, calligraphers and illustrators, as well as writers and everyday stationery fans. It is also a global success story as this little Dorset business ships their handcrafted products to over 70 countries. However, their biggest customer bases are in the UK and the US. ‘We love what we do, and we love what we make,’ Tom declares. ‘Our vision is to stay small and continue to serve a wonderful community of like-minded creative folks, wherever they may be.’

Kirstie Bird @inkandflowstudio is an ambassador for Tom's Studio. (Image: Supplied by Tom Gyr) The Power of Socials

Tom’s Studio has gained many friends and supporters around the world since they started in 2016. One way in which Tom and Gemma have nurtured this creative community is by interviewing artists and allowing them to take over their socials each month. The guest artist simultaneously showcases their own talent as well as Tom’s exceptional tools. So far this has included calligraphers from Illyboo Designs, Blink Lettering, Studio MarieClaire and Addicted Planner Stickers. But it’s not only legendary lettering you’ll see. Rachel Brooks, a scientific illustrator, shared videos of her process as she drew marine creatures in immaculate detail using Tom’s products. Watercolour artist, Imogen Partridge created illustrations of buildings and places and Caroline Smith, from Urban Sketchliner captured a series of precision cityscapes.

Kirstie Bird @inkandflowstudio (a nod to her dual career as a calligrapher and yoga teacher), first started practicing calligraphy in 2018. ‘It wasn't long before Tom's pens were on my radar,’ she says. ‘I treated myself to one, I still use it every day. Becoming an ambassador for Tom in 2023 has been a dream come true. His pens are truly a must-have for any keen calligrapher.’