Nobrow
Nobrow is a London-based independent comics and illustrated-book publisher known for highly designed editions, original anthologies, and international graphic storytelling.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nobrow, also known as Nobrow Press, is an independent British publisher headquartered in London and focused on comics, graphic novels, illustrated books, and visually distinctive publications. Sam Arthur and Alex Spiro founded the company in October 2008 with the stated aim of publishing books that deserved to be printed. From the beginning, Nobrow positioned itself less as a conventional mass-market comics house than as a design-conscious publisher operating at the intersection of independent comics, illustration, art publishing, and do-it-yourself culture. The company became particularly associated with its eponymous biannual anthology, Nobrow, which provided a platform for short comics and illustration from British, European, and international artists. Its publishing list has included work by Blexbolex, Luke Pearson, Jon McNaught, and Jesse Moynihan, among others. Nobrow has also been noted for bringing European artists and approaches to comics to English-speaking readers. Rather than treating visual design as secondary to narrative, the publisher makes color, paper, format, binding, and production quality central parts of the reading experience. Nobrow's books are recognized for an idiosyncratic approach to printing that supports bold and carefully controlled color palettes. The company also pays close attention to paper stock and physical presentation, often producing books intended to feel like collectible art objects as well as conventional reading material. This editorial and manufacturing approach has helped distinguish Nobrow within the independent comics field and has contributed to its reputation as a champion of small-press and DIY publishing values. The company expanded its activity beyond core comics publishing during the early 2010s. It announced plans for a children's publishing imprint, later identified with Flying Eye Books, with a projected slate of titles for 2013. In September 2013, Nobrow opened an office in New York City under Creative Director Alex Spiro. The office was intended to support distribution in the United States and to develop relationships with television and film studios interested in adapting Nobrow properties. One of the most prominent examples of that wider reach was Hilda, Luke Pearson's graphic-novel series. In 2016, Netflix announced that it would produce an animated children's series based on Hilda with Silvergate Media. The adaptation brought a Nobrow-associated property to a much broader international audience while retaining the connection between the publisher's illustrated-book program and screen development. Nobrow's United States distribution has been handled by Penguin Random House. Its overall identity remains tied to carefully curated visual publishing, creator-led comics, illustrated children's books, and the presentation of independent and European work to English-language readers. Publicly available reference material does not establish a complete current ownership structure, financial profile, or comprehensive list of present executives, so those details are left unspecified here.
History
Nobrow Press was founded in London in October 2008 by Sam Arthur and Alex Spiro. The founders described their purpose as publishing books that deserved to be printed, a formulation that reflects the company's independent and selective editorial identity. Nobrow developed in the British small-press and comics environment, but its ambitions extended beyond a narrowly local audience. It sought to publish formally adventurous comics, illustration, and graphic work while making the physical design of each book part of its appeal. A central element of the early publishing program was the biannual Nobrow anthology. The anthology gave the company a recurring platform for short comics and illustration and helped establish its reputation for discovering and presenting artists with distinctive visual languages. The list included creators such as Blexbolex, Luke Pearson, Jon McNaught, and Jesse Moynihan. Nobrow was also recognized for introducing English-speaking readers to work by European artists, thereby connecting British independent publishing with wider continental comics and illustration traditions. The company's aesthetic became one of its principal distinguishing features. Nobrow used a carefully controlled printing process to achieve strong, unusual color combinations and devoted substantial attention to paper selection and object design. Its books were often conceived as complete visual artifacts, with format, stock, color, and packaging working alongside the story or artwork. Critical descriptions of the publisher have consequently emphasized design and color without suggesting that narrative was absent; instead, Nobrow's approach often favored unusual, ambiguous, or less conventionally linear storytelling. In January 2012, Nobrow curated This Is Not a Pop-Up at the Hayward Gallery shop. The two-week event combined retail activity with appearances by musicians and artists and included a workshop for children. The event illustrated how the company understood publishing as part of a broader cultural program rather than only the sale of books. Later that year, Nobrow attended the Small Press Expo, and co-founder Sam Arthur joined a panel examining the international readability and translation of British comics. Nobrow began expanding into children's publishing in the early 2010s. In 2012, it announced work on a sister imprint intended to publish children's books, with 12 titles planned for 2013. This program became associated with Flying Eye Books and broadened the company's relationship with illustrated storytelling for younger readers. The children's list retained the wider group's emphasis on strong illustration, distinctive production, and creator-led work. In September 2013, Nobrow opened a New York City office headed by Alex Spiro, who was identified as its Creative Director. The office served practical and strategic purposes: it helped the company develop United States distribution while also building relationships with television and film studios. Those relationships were particularly relevant to properties with adaptation potential, including Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic-novel series. Nobrow's U.S. distribution has been associated with Penguin Random House. The company's international profile increased further in June 2016, when Netflix announced an animated children's adaptation of Hilda, produced with Silvergate Media. The series connected a creator-originated graphic-novel property with a major global streaming platform and demonstrated how Nobrow's publishing catalog could extend into screen entertainment. Nobrow is therefore best understood as a design-led independent publishing brand rather than simply a conventional comics imprint. Its work combines anthology publishing, graphic novels, illustration, children's books, international talent discovery, and carefully manufactured physical editions. Public reference material does not provide reliable detail on current ownership, financial performance, or a complete current leadership roster; those areas remain unspecified.
- 2016
Netflix announces Hilda adaptation
[1]Netflix announces an animated children's series based on Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic novels, produced with Silvergate Media.
- 2013
New York office opens
[1]Nobrow opens a New York City office led by Alex Spiro to support U.S. distribution and screen-industry relationships.
- 2012
This Is Not a Pop-Up
[1]Nobrow curates a two-week cultural and retail event at the Hayward Gallery shop with artists, musicians, children's activities, and publications.
- 2012
Children's imprint announced
[1]The company announces a sister imprint for children's publishing, with a planned 2013 list of 12 titles.
- 2008
Nobrow Press is founded
[1]Sam Arthur and Alex Spiro establish Nobrow in London as an independent publisher intended to bring deserving comics and illustrated books into print.
Products and positioning
An independent, design-led comics and illustrated-book publisher that emphasizes distinctive visual production, creator-led work, international discovery, and DIY culture.
Comics anthology
Nobrow anthology
Nobrow's eponymous biannual anthology is a recurring showcase for short comics, illustration, and experimental visual storytelling. It has helped define the publisher's identity by bringing together emerging and established creators within carefully designed physical editions. The anthology also provides a vehicle for presenting work from Britain, continental Europe, and other international scenes to English-language readers.
Graphic-novel series
Hilda
Luke Pearson's Hilda series is a children's graphic-novel property published through Nobrow's illustrated-book program. The books follow the imaginative adventures of Hilda and became one of the publisher's most visible properties. The series later expanded beyond print when Netflix announced an animated adaptation in 2016 in collaboration with Silvergate Media.
Children's publishing imprint · 2013
Flying Eye Books
Flying Eye Books is the children's publishing imprint developed as part of Nobrow's expansion beyond its core comics program. Its purpose is to publish illustrated children's titles while carrying forward the wider group's emphasis on strong visual authorship, distinctive design, and high-quality physical production.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012This Is Not a Pop-Up
United Kingdom
Nobrow curated a two-week event at the Hayward Gallery shop that combined the sale of books and products with musicians, artists, and a workshop for children.
Outcome. The event increased the cultural and experiential dimension of Nobrow's publishing activity, although no attendance or financial results are reported in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2016
Hilda moves toward animated televisionProduct launchBackground
Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic novels had attracted interest from television and film studios through Nobrow's expanding screen relationships.
Action taken
Netflix announced an animated children's series based on Hilda, produced with Silvergate Media.
Aftermath
The announcement gave a Nobrow-associated graphic-novel property substantial international screen exposure.
2013
Establishment of a New York officeStrategyBackground
Nobrow needed stronger support for U.S. distribution and wanted to develop relationships with television and film studios interested in selected catalog properties.
Action taken
The publisher opened a New York City office led by Creative Director Alex Spiro.
Aftermath
The office supported the company's North American activities and helped connect its publishing properties with screen-development opportunities.
2012
Expansion into children's publishingStrategyBackground
Nobrow sought to extend its illustrated publishing expertise into books for children and announced a sister imprint with a planned 2013 list.
Action taken
The company developed a children's publishing program associated with Flying Eye Books.
Aftermath
The move broadened Nobrow's catalog beyond adult-oriented independent comics and created a platform for illustrated children's properties such as Hilda.
Recent events
- 2016
Netflix announces an animated adaptation of Hilda[1]
Product launch · Other
Netflix announced an animated children's series based on Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic novels, produced with Silvergate Media.
- 2016
Netflix announces an animated Hilda series[1]
Product launch
Netflix announced an animated children's series based on Luke Pearson's Hilda graphic novels, produced with Silvergate Media.
- 2013
Nobrow opens a New York City office[1]
Other
Nobrow established a New York office led by Alex Spiro to support United States distribution and cultivate television and film relationships.
- 2012
Nobrow organizes the This Is Not a Pop-Up event at the Hayward Gallery shop[1]
Campaign · Other
Nobrow curated a two-week event featuring musicians, artists, a children's workshop, and sales of its publications and products.
- 2012
Nobrow participates in the Small Press Expo[1]
Other
The publisher attended the Small Press Expo, where co-founder Sam Arthur took part in a panel on whether British comics translate internationally.
- 2012
Nobrow develops a children's publishing imprint[1]
Product launch
The company announced plans for a sister imprint centered on children's publishing and expected to release 12 titles in 2013.
- 2012
Nobrow curates This Is Not a Pop-Up at the Hayward Gallery shop[1]
Campaign · Other
Nobrow organized a two-week event featuring its publications alongside musicians, artists, and a children's workshop.
- 2012
Nobrow participates in Small Press Expo programming[1]
Other
The publisher attended the Small Press Expo, with co-founder Sam Arthur taking part in a panel about the international translation and reception of British comics.
- 2012
Nobrow announces a children's publishing direction[1]
Product launch
The company announced plans for a sister imprint focused on children's publishing, with a projected list of twelve titles for 2013.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/nobrow · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled