New Farm Confectionery

Nature-inspired seasonal packaging illustration series for New Farm Confectionery, transforming Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas into playful illustrated gifting worlds.

Project Credits
Client: New Farm Confectionery
Illustration: Sheryl Cole
Design: Sheryl Cole
Creative Direction: Sheryl Cole
Product Photography: Mindi Cooke
Product Styling: Lyndel Miller

Services
Packaging Illustration, Surface Pattern Design, Creative Direction

This ongoing collaboration with New Farm Confectionery explores a nature-inspired approach to seasonal packaging illustration across multiple special occasion campaigns.

Hand-painted in watercolour and composed digitally, each collection combines storytelling, colour, and surface design to create playful illustrated gifting experiences.

While every campaign was designed to feel unique, the collections remain connected through an overarching theme of nature-inspired sweet treats and seasonal storytelling. From romantic florals and butterflies to sea turtles and festive robins, each design translates emotion and occasion into immersive illustrated worlds.

The work spans illustration, surface design, and creative direction, resulting in packaging that feels expressive, collectible, and designed to elevate the experience of gifting.

Valentine’s Day
Roses are red is a modern, nature-led interpretation of the classic love poem. This Valentine’s Day packaging illustration draws on the idea that flowers are love’s truest language.

A floral surface pattern inspired by Roses are red, violets are blue, reimagined through hand-painted watercolour elements and digitally composed into a contemporary repeat.

Balancing romance with a sense of playfulness, the artwork brings a whimsical and elevated feel to the gift box. Designed to enhance the experience of gifting and sharing something sweet.

Mother’s Day
Wings of a Flutter was inspired by nature’s truest sweet tooths, this piece draws on the relationship between butterflies and nectar. Mirroring the quiet joy of gifting something sweet.

The artwork is made up of a kaleidoscope of butterflies which unfold across the composition, including Cape York Birdwings, Blue Tigers, and Common Crows, forming a layered and expressive surface design.

Father’s Day
A Bale of Lucky Turtles was inspired by the coastal landscapes of Queensland, this Father’s Day packaging illustration draws on the symbolism of sea turtles-representing strength, longevity, and quiet resilience.

Hand-painted in watercolour and digitally arranged into a considered surface design. Balancing meaning with a sense of calm and connection to place, the design reflects themes of endurance, guidance, and steady presence.

Christmas
Mistletoe Delivery is a playful festive scene where red-breasted robins take the reins from Santa. Delivering limited-edition gift boxes filled with New Farm Confectionery’s gourmet sweets.

Perched amongst a mistletoe-inspired surface illustration, the robins bring a sense of charm and storytelling to the packaging. Balancing nostalgia with a contemporary, nature-led approach.

Hand-painted in watercolour and digitally composed, the artwork forms an intricate and immersive design, created to enhance the gifting experience and evoke a sense of delight and connection during the festive season.

Interested in collaborating or licensing illustration work?

Packaging Illustration • Food Illustration • Seasonal Campaigns • Branding Illustration • Surface Design