Rachel Corcoran

With intricate illustrations that hide secret details and celebrate Irish culture, Rachel Corcoran creates greeting cards designed to become treasured keepsakes.  

Illustrator Rachel Corcoran creates what she calls “nostalgic paper delights” - intricately detailed cards that celebrate Irish heritage, popular culture, and the simple joy of receiving something beautiful through the letterbox. Rachel’s enthusiasm for greeting cards began early. “I’ve had a love of greeting cards and stationery since I was very young,” she explains. “I still have a folder of most of the greeting cards I received as a child and teenager, even my very first card as a newborn.” 

When she established her business in 2012, Rachel used cards to promote her talent. “I thought that offering my art on greeting cards would be a good introduction for my customers - small affordable illustrations that were exchanged and shared with others,” she recalls. What started with fashion illustrations and hand-lettered quotes has developed into a comprehensive product range. 

As the business has grown, one particular milestone moment stands out - when Rachel’s designs became available across Trader Joe’s stores in the United States. “I’m very much influenced by American popular culture and illustration, so it was a dream come true to have my own illustrations available in such an iconic retail outlet,” Rachel says. 

Creative Process 

Each of Rachel’s cards begins as a thumbnail sketch, followed by extensive research to develop her vision. What sets her work apart is the extraordinary detail, and some card illustrations take over fifty hours to complete. “I love including little hidden details, so the viewer has to explore my illustrations and thus feels a greater connection to them,” she remarks. 

Rachel describes this approach as creating a “nostalgic narrative”, guiding viewers through stories and personal memories. Her style, which blends digital and traditional mediums, has been described as “a mix of pretty with a healthy dash of wit”. She designs her cards with longevity in mind. “I intend for my cards to be framed as miniature prints after the special occasion has passed, a beautiful paper keepsake with a handwritten memory within it.” 

Rachel runs her business through Squarespace. Her marketing strategy centres on social media, with Instagram proving most productive, alongside YouTube and Pinterest. She also maintains a seasonal newsletter and regularly participates in craft shows to reach customers who might not discover her work online. “I try to be as engaging with my customers as much as possible, by sharing behind-the-scenes photos from my studio, chatting with them, and by sharing my illustration process on my YouTube channel,” Rachel adds. 

Reliable And Affordable 

Rachel has adopted a sustainable approach to packaging. “I don’t use any plastic in my packaging, so my cards are wrapped instead within a nostalgic paper gift bag, with a handwritten illustrated ‘thank you’ postcard,” she explains. “I use An Post services, and it’s nice to know that by using my local post office I am also supporting another Irish business. As a small business, it is so important that people like me can have access to a reliable and affordable postal service. Without this, my online shop would not be able to function.” 

Rachel offers cards for numerous occasions, and customers often purchase them in bundles, mixing birthday, new home, and Valentine’s cards in a single order. When asked why physical cards still matter, Rachel stresses the importance of retaining physical material culture for future generations to engage with, and for us to look back upon. 

“Isn’t it a wonderful experience to receive a card through the letterbox? To see what stamps are used on the envelope, to open it with glee, to read the greeting and illustration, and to open the card to reveal the personal handwritten message within. We need these tangibly loving moments because the world has become so devoid of them.” 

Thoughtful Tradition 

Christmas is the one of the busiest times of the year for Rachel’s online store, and greeting cards are the most popular product in the shop. “I would encourage people to send physical cards this Christmas,” she adds. “It’s a thoughtful tradition, which Irish people have loved to do for generations. The person receiving a card will appreciate the effort and sentiment so much more than a text. It’s meaningful and memorable.” 

Rachel Corcoran's range of greeting cards and other products are available online at www.rachelcorcoran.net and in selected retailers.