About

The Institute of Cute is an independant, eclectic and totally unique store in gorgeous Byron Bay, Australia. But it's more than just a store, it's is my pride and joy! It's part Art Gallery, part library, part boutique, part jewellers, part artstore, part gift store, part stationers and part classroom. It houses all of the ranges I have designed and licenced from bookmarks to surfboards!

This Online version of the Institute of Cute showcases our most popular 'best-sellers'. It would just be impossible to include everything the real-world store fits within its walls. Of course, if you have had the chance to visit us and NEED something you have seen, just contact us via the 'Contact' page and my team and I will do our very best to make your dreams come true!

Look at how cute the store is...perfectly named, right?!

The Institute of Cute has developed over time. It all started with my first large-scale, outdoors art installation in 2002 as the Artist in Residence for the Wollongong Botanic Gardens. I wanted to create a special ‘something’ that visitors could take home with them if they enjoyed my work . My first creation was a small exhibition book and a set of postcards.

Over the years since, I have added more and more designs to accompany my artwork and books. I also work with some fantastic companies who have enabled me to share my artwork internationally via calendars, cards, stationery, homewares, fashion and as posters. I am considered one of Australia’s most successfully licenced artists, and I have had many wonderful newspaper articles, tv and radio interviews and feature articles about my artwork, including the Wall Street Journal of all things!

I LOVE ladybirds, they are my favourite creature, so you will always find reference to them in my artwork, books and ...well...everything I do really! I consider myself a very lucky person, and I think that ladybird's have always looked over me.

In 2005 my husband and I moved to the Eastern most tip of Australia to take advantage of the surf and relaxed, beachy lifestyle. We opened the store in 2007 and Institute of Cute has been a joy from the get-go. Most of my time is spent on creating my artwork in my studio, but I cherish the time I spend giving flight to my design imagination and creating all sorts of adorable goodies, spending time with our small, tight-knit team and and meeting our cuties, I mean customers!

x Choose happiness

Jane Davenport | Artomologist

P.S. Come and 'hang out' with me on my blog:

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Rather than tell you all about the Institute of Cute, let's show you!:

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Location

Byron Bay is one of Australia’s most desired relaxation destinations as our small town is surrounded by forest, divine beaches and a crystal sea full of dolphins and whales. The whole Byron region is regarded as a creative and health mecca and ‘The Bay’ is its epicentre.

The Institute of Cute is nestled right in Byron Bay’s heart!

58 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia. (02) 6680 8550

Click on the map or the link below to go to Google maps for all the directions:

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About Jane Davenport

Walking on Clouds - Jane Davenport

“Jane is the ladybird’s best friend.
For that matter she should be lauded and loved
by every member of nature’s world.”
Bert Newton

Jane’s work serves as an exquisite reminder of nature. Her love for ladybirds and the little things in life is infectious! Her unique voice inspires us to smile and treat the earth more gently

Jane started her photographic career as a runway photographer when her mother , Australian fashion icon Liz Davenport, came to visit her in London. Liz bought so many shoes she couldn’t fit her new camera in the suitcase and left it behind for Jane to return on a future visit home. London Fashion Week was about to commence and she really wanted to see if supermodels were as beautiful in the flesh as in the glossies, so snuck in as a photographer and discovered two things 1. They are and 2. she loved photography. Jane became a fashion catwalk regular and Liz never got her camera back.

Now Jane captures the show-ponies of the garden as they pose in the latest spring fashion and parade down petal catwalks. Jane says it’s not really so different from photographing supermodels. Now she has swapped the human kind of social butterfly for the real thing.

Certainly it was Jane’s love of the little things that lead to her title of ‘Artomologist’ as it is the perfect way to define her unique mix of art and entomological persuasions. But It has come to encompass so much more as she continues to surprise and delight us with her incredible artistic prowess. Her Illustrative, painting and writing styles are just as captivating as her photography.

Jane has her own artist website, blog and store at www.janedavenport.com