Beyond a Word began in 2008 with a simple idea: the most meaningful artwork is often deeply personal. We loved the idea that a piece hanging on a wall could be more than decoration — it could represent a family, a relationship, a memory or a story that means something unique to the people looking at it every day.
Starting out in Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, we noticed that many people were searching for gifts and artwork with real emotional value rather than generic products found everywhere else. We saw people wanting wedding gifts that actually felt personal, anniversary presents that captured shared memories, and family artwork that celebrated the people and places most important to them. That naturally led us towards personalised word art and custom designs where names, dates, locations and memories could be transformed into something visual and lasting.
Today, Beyond a Word has expanded into a wider range of personalised artwork, including custom word art, star maps, push-pin maps, photo collages and bespoke wall art designs, but the original idea remains the same. Every order still begins with a story, and every piece is designed to create something that feels genuinely personal rather than mass-produced.
What we enjoy most is knowing that many of our artworks become part of people's homes and family stories for years to come — whether it's celebrating a wedding, welcoming a newborn, marking an anniversary or remembering an important moment in life.
Every personalised artwork begins with your story. Whether it's a custom word art design, personalised map, photo collage, anniversary artwork or another bespoke piece, the process always starts with the information you provide when placing your order. We carefully review your selections along with any notes you've included, as we know many customers aren't always sure which options best fit what they have in mind. Don't worry too much about getting every detail perfect at checkout — we always read the notes and work with you to create the result you're looking for.
Once our design team receives your order, we'll create your personalised artwork and send a digital proof within around 2 business days (usually sooner). This is where the collaborative part begins. You're welcome to request as many revisions as needed — whether that's changing wording, adjusting colours, moving elements around, updating names or dates, or refining the overall design. We don't place limits on revisions because our goal is simple: we want you to be genuinely excited about the final piece before it ever reaches production.
Once you've approved the design, production begins within our Australian workshops. We print using premium 100% cotton artist canvas and archival UV-resistant inks designed to produce rich colours and long-lasting detail. Canvas artwork is then carefully hand-stretched over kiln-dried Australian pine timber frames to ensure strength and stability over time. Framed and floating-frame options are assembled and finished before moving through a final quality-control check where colours, alignment, finishing and presentation are inspected.
Only once we're completely happy with the finished piece do we package it carefully and send it on its way. From the first proof through to the final shipment, every order is treated as a one-off personalised project rather than a mass-produced product.
Every personalised artwork from Beyond a Word is designed, printed and finished locally in Australia. Our production team works across our Australian workshops in Noosaville, Queensland and Booragoon, Perth, allowing us to produce and dispatch orders efficiently while maintaining close quality control throughout the process. We don't rely on generic overseas drop-shipping suppliers or mass-produced imports — each order is created specifically for the customer and produced by our own Australian team.
Because many of our products are personalised and individually designed, production begins only once your proof has been approved. Most personalised artwork orders are designed and proofed within 2 business days (usually sooner), with production and dispatch generally taking a few more business days, depending on the product and format selected. We always aim to move orders through production as quickly as possible without compromising quality.
We currently offer a simple flat-rate shipping charge of $40 across Australia and the UK, making delivery costs straightforward with no surprises during checkout. Every order is carefully packaged to protect it in transit, whether you're ordering a custom word art design, a personalised map, a photo collage, or a large statement canvas piece.
For us, "Australian-made" isn't simply a label — it's about maintaining quality, supporting local production and ensuring every personalised piece receives the attention it deserves.
Sally Kirchell is the founder and creative director of Beyond a Word and has spent more than 15 years working in the wall art and print industry. Sally works closely with customers and the production team across the Australian workshops in Noosaville, Queensland and Booragoon, Perth, helping transform everything from family photos and personalised artwork through to fine art reproductions and large statement wall pieces into finished products designed to last.
Over the years, Sally has developed a strong understanding of not only artwork and design trends, but also the practical side of producing premium wall art — including materials, framing, colour accuracy and helping customers choose pieces that genuinely suit their homes. Rather than relying on mass overseas production, Sally's focus has always been on creating high-quality Australian-made artwork with a more personal approach. Much of the content published on the site draws on real customer questions, years of industry experience, and everyday conversations that happen within the workshops.
