Retro Hay-on-Wye Mug

This mug shows a simple street scene in beautiful Hay-on-Wye — the town of books. A little retro book character is making its way through town, having just done a guest appearance in Bartrums and looking fairly pleased with itself. Hay-on-Wye became famous for its bookshops in the 1960s, when second-hand books began filling empty buildings and gradually took over much of the town. Today there are more than 20 bookshops packed into a relatively small area, many specialising in wonderfully specific subjects. It is also home to the Hay Festival, the annual literary event once described by Bill Clinton as “the Woodstock of the mind,” attracting around 100,000 visitors each year. The design keeps things simple: a detailed back print that sets the scene, paired with a small front chest graphic that lifts the main character out on its own.