15 Dec Merry Christmas from The Driftwood Spars 2023!

As we approach the festive season each year, we can’t help but get excited about what talented illustrator and friend of The Drifty, Caroline Pedler, will have in store for us with her magical Christmas card design.

Over the last 17 years, the highs and lows of life in Trevaunance Cove have been documented by Caroline, whose other projects this year include this stunning illustration for the intro animation to the Dulux colour of the year for 2024!

Caroline and Landlady Louise have known each other since they were four years old (ballet class was a riot apparently!) and when Louise took over the pub in 2007 she turned to Caroline for creative involvement.

Working closely with her old friend and regular sea swimming buddy Louise, Caroline perfectly ‘gets’ and captures the essence of our rambling, characterful pub. Her annual Christmas cards are a festive highlight for those lucky enough to be on the long list of recipients.

The first one featured penguins and the theme has stuck, with the personalities and antics of staff and regulars all portrayed in endearing penguin-form over the years.

“Every November Lou and I sit down and have a coffee and talk about everything that’s happened that year,” Caroline explains. “Illustration is storytelling, and that conversation is an important part of the process. I try to get as much detail as I can – personalities, pets, landmark events, the humorous happenings and the sad things too. I have to behave like a curator, so I start with the big picture then drill down to the telling details.”

2023’s card has a nod to the special Faulty Towers dining events we put on throughout the year, our Manager Keith leaving us to become a Driving Instructor, Lou having ice thrown over her for the Drifty Dippers October sea swimming challenge to raise money for Surfers Against Sewage and Lou’s dear Dad at the window, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Let us know what else you spot.  

Thank you Caroline for documenting life here in the cove. We’re now chalking up 17 years rich with memories and look forward to many more to come. Here are some previous designs… 

…including 2020’s card to remind you of the joys of social distancing!

Merry Christmas from the whole team at the Driftwood Spars.