A COLCHESTER design company has created a series of stamps celebrating the national identities of the countries which make up the UK. The four miniature sheets of stamps in The Four Countries of the United Kingdom series, designed by Silk Pearce, and will be rolled out over the next four years.

A COLCHESTER design company has created a series of stamps celebrating the national identities of the countries which make up the UK.

The four miniature sheets of stamps in The Four Countries of the United Kingdom series, designed by Silk Pearce, and will be rolled out over the next four years.

The first mini-sheet will focus on Scotland and will be launched to coincide with this year's St Andrew's Day celebrations on Thursday .

A set commemorating England's St George's Day will be issued in April 2007, and sets for Wales and Northern Ireland on their respective national saints' days in 2009 and 2010.

Each miniature sheet contains an existing first-class regional definitive stamp, alongside a new 28p and two larger 72p stamps showing the country's flag, its patron saint and a national landmark.

Silk Pearce's design for the Celebrating Scotland series includes new illustrations of its Saltire flat by Peter Crowther and of St Andrew by Claire Melinsky, as well as a photograph of Edinburgh Castle. The background to the mini-sheet is an original chromolithograph of the city first published in 1895.

The England series will feature new stamps showing St George Slaying the dragon, the English flag and a photograph of the Houses of Parliament.

Peter Silk, joint creative director at the firm, said they were “always flattered” when Royal Mail asked them to work on commemorative stamps.

“It's a strong endorsement of our approach and a great feeling that our design work is being showcased throughout the UK, as well as being admired and treasured by letter-writers and stamp collectors across the world,” he said.

Royal Mail design manager Susan Gilson said Silk Pearce had “cleverly balanced” traditional and contemporary design elements to produce highly attractive sets of stamps.

Silk Pearce, a design-led communications consultancy, which offers everything from brand development and identity to literature, packaging and websites, has worked on a number of high-profile projects for Royal Mail over the last 15 years.