Victoria “TORI” Thompson

NOBLE BEASTS GRAPHICS is the brainchild of Victoria “TORI” Thompson. Tori was born and raised in Chicago. She would spend her summers on the family farm in Kearney, Nebraska. During her summer visits she would enjoy cleaning out the barn and horse stables. Tori grew to love that farm fragrance. She attended the Art Institute of Chicago prior to moving to California where she majored in Art at Whittier. Soon after, she started breeding and showing dogs, eventually opening a pet shop. She groomed dogs and operated a kennel. Tori’s art training and love for animals all came together in 1979, with the creation of Noble Beasts Graphics.

Accompanied by her best friend and husband Tommy Thompson, from a booth at the Los Angeles County Fair, she would draw beautiful pet portraits, capturing each animals unique personality.

The sign that started it all!

1984 was a pivotal year for Tori and Noble Beasts Graphics. Tori was made editor of the American Mule Association publication “Mules” and Noble Beasts Graphics produced its first aluminum signs. By the end of 1984, Noble Beasts Graphics had 22 horse and mule designs available on our yellow diamond signs. These signs became very popular and Noble Beasts Graphics moved from a shop at Tom and Tori’s Sierra Nevada ranch into historic Nevada City, California.

20 plus years have passed since the conception of Noble Beasts Graphics and we now produce more than 500 different designs on a multitude of sign formats. Our trademark yellow diamonds have been copied by many other companies but we are by far the best quality animal graphic signs available anywhere. All our artwork is hand drawn by Tori and copyrighted. We do not use clipart. All our signs are made of aluminum and will not rust or crack. We pride ourselves on service and a quality product. Most orders ship within 24 hours.

In 2002, Tori moved on to greener pastures, but her legacy and artwork live on. Husband, Tommy Thompson, now controls the reins, with Tori’s devoted crew at his side. Nothing about Noble Beasts Graphics has changed, but that Tori is truly missed by all who knew her.