Art for curious children, designed to grow with them.

It's lovely to meet you!

I’m Carolyn Rouse, the illustrator and designer behind PaperPaintPixels, working from my studio in the Somerset countryside.

PaperPaintPixels began with a simple belief: the images children grow up with matter. In those early years, when everything is new, what surrounds a child can shape how they see, think, and imagine. My work is created to gently spark that curiosity — to invite questions, to encourage exploration, and to bring a sense of calm, thoughtful beauty into a child’s space.

My prints sit somewhere between art and learning. Alphabets, animals, maps and themes are designed not just to decorate a room, but to become part of a child’s everyday world — something they return to again and again, noticing new details over time.

Each piece begins with drawing and mark-making using traditional materials before being refined digitally, creating artwork with both texture and clarity.

Printing is an essential part of the process. Every print is produced using archival pigment inks on 100% cotton rag fine art paper — a museum-quality material with a soft, natural texture and exceptional depth of colour. This combination ensures a lifespan of 85+ years, meaning the artwork won’t fade or yellow, but can remain part of a child’s environment for years to come.

Sustainability runs through everything I create, from responsibly sourced papers to recyclable packaging and carefully chosen production partners for international orders.

As both a designer and a parent, I understand how meaningful it is to create a space for a child — somewhere that feels calm, personal and full of possibility. My hope is that these prints become part of those moments, quietly supporting imagination, learning and a sense of belonging.

My love of the natural world drives my work and business and is at the heart of everything I do. I'm working towards using only recyclable, compostable and biodegradable packaging where possible and I'm dedicated to improving the sustainability of my business as I grow.

• The fine art cotton rag paper used is part of the Woodland Trust Carbon Capture Scheme. A percetange of the cost is used to plant trees.
• I use FSC Certified, acid free tissue paper to wrap all of my prints. 
• I use Kraft tape which is fully recyclable and free from animal products. 
• I use Biodegradable and Compostable cello bags which are made from vegetable starch.
•  The orders are packed in 100% recycled cardboard envelopes and boxes.
•  I try to repurpose packaging from our supplier deliveries and encourage our suppliers to go plastic free where possible.
• The only single use plastic I use in the packaging is the recycled plastic end caps of the tubes I package the prints in. I'm looking for a solution!