The Story Behind Strathmore’s Thistle

You’ve probably seen the Strathmore thistle before, our logo, on our pads, or hidden somewhere in the artwork on a pad cover. It may be a small detail, but it has a long history behind it, and it still means a lot to us today.

Where the Thistle Began

The Strathmore thistle dates back to the late 1800's, when our founder, Horace Moses, visited Strathmore Valley in Scotland.

While he was there, the thistle was in full bloom throughout the valley. The beauty of the landscape made such a strong impression on him that he began using the Strathmore name and thistle symbol to represent the quality papers made at his mill.

That purple blooming thistle became a lasting part of Strathmore's history.

A Symbol That Has Changed Over Time

We love looking back at our history and how the thistle has evolved over time. It's taken on different styles and details through the years, but it has always remained a core part of the Strathmore brand. No matter how it appears, the thistle continues to connect back to the same idea: quality papers made for artists.

Look Closely at Our 400 Series Covers

Today, the thistle is still part of Strathmore’s identity, and you can find it across our 400 Series pad covers. Each cover features artwork created by a real artist, and we let them decide where and how the thistle shows up. It might be drawn as the plant itself, included as our logo, worked into clothing, hidden in the background, or paced somewhere easy to spot. However it appears, we love seeing how each artist makes it their own.
The next time you pick up a 400 Series pad, take a closer look and see if you can find it.

We hope the next time you see our thistle, you’ll remember what it has represented since the very beginning: quality papers that help artists create work that lasts.