The 'Support Small Artists' Gift Guide
Books, vinyl, cards and gifts direct from small but mighty makers
As Christmas approaches and your inbox is flooded with gift guides I thought I’d add my 2 cents so you can support smaller artists and writers and also impress your friends and family with your alternative, off-the-shelf presents. Kicking off (of course) with the extended ‘Rosie Miles’ Merchandise range, I have put together a list of some of my favourite books, vinyls, cards and gifts from independent and small-press makers from across the UK. Some of them are friends and people I’ve met along the way and all of them make beautiful things that trump anything you could find in TKMaxx or Paperchase. In the spirit of no-crap Christmas, I hope you find this guide helpful and maybe discover some lovely artists along the way. Happy shopping!
(Also I’m releasing a new song next week and you can pre-save it now wooo!)
The Rosie Miles Catalogue
‘Still Life’ CD - (Technically) Limited edition micro-vinyl (I only have 15 left). Featuring all the Rosie Miles Greatest Hits.
‘Still Life’ Book of Poems - Includes 25 poems written during the dark days of 2020. Mentions of friendship, female rage and existential dread/confusion.
BRAND NEW Embroidered T-Shirts - 100% Cotton. “Omg this is so comfortable and stylish” - All of my bandmates
Small Press Books (mostly)
In my humble opinion, books are a flawless gift. In fact instead of posting cards (a 3-step process which I always fail to complete) I order second hand books from world of books or new ones from bookshop.com and post them directly to the person. Also, a book, unlike other gifts, if left unused can always double as house decor, clout-signaller and temporary furniture or lamp height adjuster. So you can’t go wrong :)
Bargain Bin Rom-Com by Leena Norms (Burning Eye Books) - Poetry that doesn’t take itself too seriously whilst being actually quite serious and powerful. Brilliant small, spoken-word publisher in the South West.
When We Cease To Understand The World by Benjamin Labatut (Pushkin Press). Recommended by the wonderful Christy who I work with at Ink@84. Absolutely nuts fiction book about scientists and mathematicians.
2024 Anthology (Broken Sleeps Books) - I couldn’t decide which book to recommend so here’s a nice melange from a fab working-class indie poetry publisher. You can also buy bundle deals on their books and pamphlets!
Garden Physic by Sylvia Legris (Granta Books) - A mind-boggling poetry collection about plants that has a delicious number of words I have never heard before.
Last Date in El Zapotal by Mateo Garcia Elizondo (Charco Press) - A Ghost story novel from a brilliant Mexican author.
The Book of Disappearance by Ibstisam Azem (& Other Stories) - Arabic novel following the the complex lives of Palestinians living in Israel.
New Voices Rise by The London Library - Featuring fiction, translation, poetry, memoir, narrative non-fiction, playwriting, screenwriting and writing for children from the London emerging writers programme.
Three Worlds by Avi Shlaim (One World Publications) - One of my favourite books of the year from a great indie publisher.
An African History of Africa by Zeinab Badawi - Not a small publisher (oops) but this book should have been published a long time ago and I need the world to know!
Our Women on the Ground edited by Zahra Hankir - Oh no it’s Penguin again…but I think this collection of essays from 19 Arab women journalists is important and interesting enough to break my own rule.
The Only Woman by Immy Humes - I don’t know much about photography but this book always catches my eye as a genius depiction of women in a man’s world shown through group portraits of artists, activists, scientists, servants and movie stars, each featuring a lone woman.
Haramacy presented by Zahed Sultan (Unbound Press) - A collection of essays prescribed by voices from the Middle East and South Asia from a crowd-funded publisher (that supports a lot of great non-fiction).
Vinyl
Some of my favourite albums from this year on vinyl. You can also buy a Bandcamp Gift Card so your loved ones can choose their own should you be afraid of selecting the wrong one (I am too afraid).
Handmade cards
Cait McEniff - Cards from wonderful Leeds-based textiles artist whose work I have always loved!
Giedre Kazlauskaite - Affordable art prints from Newcastle-based Lithuanian artist
Jika Edstrom (Ugly Ladies) - I found their art prints and illustrations when I lived in Leeds but I think they are now based in Berlin
Isabella & Olivia Cuttill - Dazzling lyric book from this dynamic sister duo Olivia (Fab trumpet player and composer) and Izzie (Ridiculously good illustrator and housemate hehe).
Naturally Wonky - Lino prints and pins raising funds for Palestine
Maria Midtunn - Beautiful 2025 calendar from Norwegian illustrator living in London
Other handmade beauties
Kindred Workshop - Hand-thrown mugs with wild clay. I met Mutsa at a gig in Birmingham many years ago and she makes beautiful, small-batch pottery (and is a very lovely person!)
See + Quin - Unique hand-embroidered & personalised textiles from Bath
Studio Sol Jewellery - Handmade silver and gold jewellery made in Leeds by the wonderful Eliza who I know from my time in Yorkshire
Afropop socks - London-based African heritage sock designers
Cafe Palestina - Beautiful ceramics, made in Palestine and sold online and at their lovely cafe in Camden
Hannah Burgess Ceramics - Another great Leeds maker and human
Meet you on the stage
14th December - Banbury, Oxfordshire @ Deddington Church
Meet you on the radio
Listen to my weekly playlist here!
Loved browsing, may spend money!