23 Envelope was the name given to the graphic design partnership of graphic designer Vaughan Oliver

Vaughan Oliver

Vaughan Oliver is a British graphic designer based in Epsom, South of London. Oliver is most noted for his work with graphic design studios 23 Envelope and v23...

 and photographer/filmmaker Nigel Grierson from 1983-1988. During this time, they created a distinct visual identity for the British independent music label 4AD

4AD

4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...

 through their record sleeve designs for bands such as Cocteau Twins

Cocteau Twins

Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...

, Dead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...

, and This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil

This Mortal Coil was a gothic dream pop supergroup led by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many of whom...

.

As 23 Envelope, Oliver primarily art directed and designed, while Grierson primarily photographed (occasionally, however, duties would be exchanged and/or overlap). With Grierson's departure in 1988, Oliver saw fit to retire the 23 Envelope moniker, and continue working under the name v23 with new partner Chris Bigg, and various design associates that would come to include Paul McMenamin, Timothy O'Donnell, Martin Andersen and others.

A quote from a 2000 article on Grierson by Rick Poynor

Rick Poynor

Rick Poynor is a British writer on design, graphic design, typography and visual culture. He began as a general visual arts journalist, working on Blueprint magazine in London. After founding Eye magazine , which he edited from 1990 to 1997, he focused increasingly on visual communication...

 explains some of the early history of Oliver and Grierson:

Publications featuring the work of 23 Envelope

The work of 23 Envelope has been well-published in books and design magazines especially under Vaughan Oliver's name.

• Emigre, No. 9, edited by Rudy Vanderlans
  Rudy VanderLans
  Rudy VanderLans is a Dutch type and graphic designer and the co-founder of Emigre, an independent type foundry.VanderLans studied at the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague. Later, he moved to California and studied photography at the University of California, Berkeley...
  
  , 1988.
• Eye
  Eye (magazine)
  Eye Magazine, The International Review of Graphic Design is a quarterly print magazine on graphic design and visual culture.- History :...
  
  , No. 10, Vol. 3, edited by Rick Poynor
  Rick Poynor
  Rick Poynor is a British writer on design, graphic design, typography and visual culture. He began as a general visual arts journalist, working on Blueprint magazine in London. After founding Eye magazine , which he edited from 1990 to 1997, he focused increasingly on visual communication...
  
  , Wordsearch Ltd, 1993.
• Eye
  Eye (magazine)
  Eye Magazine, The International Review of Graphic Design is a quarterly print magazine on graphic design and visual culture.- History :...
  
  , No. 37, Vol. 10, edited by John L. Walters
  John L. Walters
  John L. Walters is a British editor, critic and composer. He was a founding member of the band Landscape, best known for the 1981 hit ‘Einstein A Go-Go’ which reached no. 5 in the UK charts...
  
  , Quantum Publishing, 2000.
• This Rimy River: Vaughn Oliver and Graphic Works 1988-94, by Vaughan Oliver and Vulva O'Reighan. (ISBN 978-0-9524216-0-3)
• Vaughan Oliver: Visceral Pleasure, by Rick Poynor
  Rick Poynor
  Rick Poynor is a British writer on design, graphic design, typography and visual culture. He began as a general visual arts journalist, working on Blueprint magazine in London. After founding Eye magazine , which he edited from 1990 to 1997, he focused increasingly on visual communication...
  
  , 2000. (ISBN 978-1-86154-072-0)
• BBC Television Documentary Programme on 23 Envelope entitled, "23 Envelope Presents". 1 hour.