Meet Erik and the Human Behind the Whiskers
Wondering who created Oh Erik? You have found the right patch of internet. I’m Erik: rescue cat, chief character and quality-control lounger. The human is Sarah-Leigh Wills, a professional graphic designer and illustrator who turned my excellent face and even better opinions into books, cards and cat-themed gifts.
This is the Oh Erik story. One real cat, one real human and a growing world made for people who understand that life is better with whiskers in it.
From Plymouth Rescue Cat to Head of the Household
My official rise to greatness began in early spring 2020, when I needed a new home and was rescued from Plymouth. My fur-parents soon discovered that I was playful, loving, inquisitive and loyal, with a calm approach to household leadership.
I prefer head rubs, slow blinks, purring and strategic cuddles to unnecessary drama. Some people might call that laid-back. I call it excellent management. Either way, the real Erik rescue cat story is where everything on this page begins.
How the Oh Erik Cat Brand Began
Erik’s expressions, habits and unmistakable catitude gave Sarah-Leigh the starting point for a character-led brand. He became the face and first-person voice of Oh Erik, while the world around him grew into illustrated stories, familiar cat situations and gifts for fellow cat people.
That balance still matters. Erik brings the mischief. Sarah-Leigh gives it shape, colour and somewhere useful to go.
Meet Sarah-Leigh Wills the Designer Behind Oh Erik
Sarah-Leigh Wills is the designer behind Oh Erik and the real human responsible for the ideas, illustration and graphic design. As an independent cat illustrator in the UK, she brings professional design experience to a brand rooted in cats she knows and loves.
There is no faceless creative department hiding behind the curtain. Sarah-Leigh creates the work, and I supervise from the nearest comfortable surface. As for handing the imagination to a machine? Hiss. I have standards.
Meet Ernie and Eddy
Erik is not the only rescue cat in the family. His little brother Ernie was adopted from New Start Cat Rescue, while Eddy came from the RSPCA Ashford Garden Cattery. Their real personalities belong in the wider Oh Erik story, even if Erik would like it recorded that this remains his website.
Sarah-Leigh’s Illustrations to Finished Cat Goodies
The characters and designs begin with Sarah-Leigh. She develops the illustrations and graphic design, then works with specialist businesses where professional printing, production or wider distribution is needed. That might mean fabric-colouring kits, printed paper goods, wooden products or locally cut components.
The result is a small independent brand supported by practical production partners, not a claim that every item is made in exactly the same way. Check each product listing for the details that matter to that particular item.
Rescue Cats Community Support and the Occasional Cuddle
Rescue is part of family life here, not a decoration added to the brand. Sarah-Leigh volunteers at the RSPCA Ashford Garden Cattery, helping to clean the cat pods and provide fresh toys and bedding, with the occasional cuddle included. Oh Erik also sponsors a pod there and supports local events when possible.
You can learn more from RSPCA Ashford Garden Cattery and New Start Cat Rescue, the organisations connected with Eddy and Ernie.
Companies I work with
Although myself and my fur-mum are able to illustrate, design and make all the cat themed goodies we do, we couldn’t print and distribute them globally without the help of some pawsome companies! Here’s a few we work with on this meowsome adventure:
Selfie Craft Co. – An amazing family run business in Suffolk. They specialise in colouring kits with a difference! Clothes that kids can colour themselves. Each kit comes with a pack of permanent fabric pens, they are high quality and also the pens are professionally tested (so they do not wash out.)
Zap Creatives – I LOVE wooden stuff, so these were our purrfect partner when it came to producing wooden gifts. Established in 2007, ZapCreatives specialise in loving the planet first when making stuff!
YouLovePrint – My Mum has been a graphic designer for what seems a century to me!! She loves this printing company and uses them all the time!
Medway Cutters – Mum is awesome at making mini cat felt gifts. She loves working with local businesses – and Medway cutters are one of them 🙂
Carry On Exploring Erik’s World
Now you know who is behind the whiskers, choose your next purruse. Meet the full character crowd or head straight to the cat gifts, books and cards. I shall remain here, supervising Sarah-Leigh and accepting the credit with dignity.
