Wins and Lessons of 2023
As another year has drawn to a close, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate not only the wins of 2023, but also the lessons learnt from my mistakes. 2023 was definitely a year of two halves for me, the first half was terrifyingly stressful, the second half, exciting and fulfilling. All of the downs and then all of the ups, which is important because it helps you gain perspective not only in your professional life but also in your personal one.
So I hope you’ll enjoy reading through my top 5 wins for last year, and also my top 5 lessons learnt from those ‘teachable’ moments.
wins
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wins -
1. Glass and Wick
What an incredible opportunity to see my work transformed into a new format! Working with Glass & Wick was an absolute joy. It’s a rare thing to find a client who just gets your vibe and can see your vision even if it’s not on paper. In the end I created a total of 27 separate illustrations culminating in 50 hours of drawing. Holding the finished article in my hands felt like holding a little treasure, and I hope if you ordered one too you felt the same!
2. Thyroid Superhero
I was over the moon when local friend/writer/thyroid advocate Rachel Hill got in touch to ask me to bring her children’s book idea to life. After the success of The Strange Tales of the Alphabet Children I was very keen to work on another book, especially one which could help so many families. I was bowled over by Rachel’s expertise and knowledge, and it reminded me that working with clients works both ways; I always come away more knowledgable and informed after being involved with their worlds, even if it’s for a short period of time.
3. Penhaligon’s for Studio XAG
One of the (physically) biggest projects I worked on to date, I was commissioned by creative geniuses Studio XAG to create some large format illustrations to be applied to a booth for their clients Penhaligon’s. As well as illustrating many Victorian style flying machines I was commissioned to create a 4ft x 4ft London map complete with iconic landmarks.
4. 2024 Markets
I visited 10 markets last year, all across Nottingham and as always it’s such a pleasure meeting you all face to face! My favourites had to be Pitch Presents Ay-Up Market in June (The weather was perfect, and it was my first time pitching up in the actual market square!) as well as the Nottingham Castle Christmas Market at the end of November. The Castle has always been a favourite spot of mine in the city, and to be a part of that for a weekend felt really special.
5. Isla & Fraser
Whilst Isla & Fraser aren’t new clients, they have been one of my longest standing clients and I am always so grateful to work with them every year. 2023 saw a little upgrade to their beautiful gift boxes which saw some small illustrated editions of flowers and ribbons to the corners in their sumptuous brand colours as devised by Page + Looker.
Photography by Abi Moore
lessons
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lessons -
Only you gets in your way
We like to think that it’s external circumstances that stop us from progressing, but one thing I noticed about myself was that I was the only saboteur. I’m not cured from this affliction, and I still self sabotage on a daily basis, however like meditation I notice when I’m doing it and I decide to try and change gears in that moment. No judgement needed.
2. Money doesn’t equal happiness, but it does make you less stressed
2023 was financially one of the hardest years to date. I’m happy to be transparent enough to tell you that the first half of the year was terrifying. And whilst the old adage of ‘money can’t buy you happiness’ is true in one way, I can’t iterate how much less stressed and ill you don’t feel when you do have it. I ended up getting a part-time job to supplement my income, something I’ve done to look after my family and ultimately my mental health.
3. When there’s a will, there’s a way
Things can, and do, feel hopeless at times. January-May was that time for me. Going through this has shown that I am able to do a lot of things I told myself I never could. Approach jobs I never imagined I would be good enough for, step up to responsibilities I didn’t think I was strong enough to do, take on work that I didn’t think I was skilled enough to complete. It’s amazing how point number 1 resonates here right?
4. Get out of your head about social media
I’ve had the privilege of watching my husband grow his Instagram account from nothing to over 101K follows in the past few years. His secret? He posts every day, and he’s not hung up over the extreme specifics. He just wanted to showcase how easy and fun it is to rewear clothes and buy secondhand, and it seems it resonates with many of you too. I’m taking this attitude with me into 2024, to approach social media less like a chore and a stress and to just be more playful and spontaneous with it.
5. Start the thing, now!
So many things put off in 2023, and once I’d done them they were so simple. This circles (again) back to point number 1 - we get in our own way all the time! How many projects do you have sitting on a pile, waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment? There will never be a perfect moment apart from the moment where you’re thinking about doing the thing, so do the thing!
Shop Update
I have not one but two new designs for Father’s Day coming up on the 19th June!
Father’s Day is the one celebration I find hard to design for as I never want to fall into any of the same cliché traps - Think pints of beer, cars, gardening, golf, fishing etc - which I personally find are not a representation of men and father’s. Just like not all mum’s are all about shoes, flowers and Prosecco, so too are father’s more diverse than what the current greeting card climate displays.
So I put the question to my Instagram audience - What do they look for when purchasing cards for their dads? The feedback was so insightful and useful as it helped me see the types of themes and imagery that you guys are looking for. So I hit my sketchbook and drew up these two designs; one inspired by space, constellations and stars, and the other by vinyls, record players and vinyl label artwork.
I hope you’ll agree that these designs are not like the usual fair you’ll see on your local high street, hopefully giving all those dads outside the cliché norms a card perfect for their Father’s Day.
For the dads who collected vinyls in their hey day, or during their revival. For those trendy vintage dads, and those vintage dads who are trendy!
• Card measures 10.5cm x 14.7cm (4-1/8 x 5-7/8 inches)
• Card is blank for your own personal message
• Design is printed on 350 gsm recycled card and comes complete with its own recycled envelope.
• Please recycle your card after use.
• Want to save some postage? I can write your message and post your card at no extra charge! Simply select from the drop down menus and add your personalised message in the text box. Be sure the delivery address is your recipients!
There are some dads who go above and beyond. Celebrate how special your father is this Father’s Day with my illustrated and cosmic greetings cards.
• Card measures 10.5cm x 14.7cm (4-1/8 x 5-7/8 inches)
• Card is blank for your own personal message
• Design is printed on 350 gsm recycled card and comes complete with its own recycled envelope.
• Please recycle your card after use.
• Want to save some postage? I can write your message and post your card at no extra charge! Simply select from the drop down menus and add your personalised message in the text box. Be sure the delivery address is your recipients!
The second product to hit my online shop are these contrasting screen printed patches, which I’ll be honest, have taken me years to list.
Yep, these patches have been in my cupboards for the past few years, hidden away by shame. You see the monkey patches were printed to go on some lovely kids t-shirts which, unfortunately, haven’t sold. Because I was a bit embarrassed about this product tanking badly I decided I would just shove the remaining patches in the cupboard and hope one day I’d make my money back by some divine miracle.
Of course that’s not how you make a living when you work for yourself, so I gave myself the goal of getting them photographed and listed by the summer. It was the little push I needed to get them out there and out of my cupboard, and I hope you’ll like them as much as I did when I had them first printed back in 2019!
Illustrated digitally, these celestial moon and stars patches are perfect for jackets, bags or anything you want to embellish.
• Patch measures 8 x 8cm
• Screen printed with a high quality overlocked hem to prevent fraying.
• Application instructions come with each patch, printed on recycled paper and packaged inside a glassine envelope.
• Please recycle your instructions and glassine envelope after use.
Illustrated digitally, these tropical monkey patches are perfect for jackets, bags or anything you want to embellish.
• Patch measures 8 x 8cm
• Screen printed with a high quality overlocked hem to prevent fraying.
• Application instructions come with each patch, printed on recycled paper and packaged inside a glassine envelope.
• Please recycle your instructions and glassine envelope after use.
Enjoy having a browse through my new products, and if you have any feedback please feel free to email me or drop a comment below!
Deborah x
Submission for Castle Rock Brewery x Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust
To celebrate 20 years of friendship, Castle Rock Brewery launched a competition to design the can and keg labels for their collaboration beer with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
To celebrate 20 years of friendship, Castle Rock Brewery launched a competition to design the can and keg labels for their collaboration beer with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. Whilst my design wasn’t selected to win the awesome prize of having their design printed and showcased across the country, it was a really fun brief to work to! Both organisations are personal favourites of mine, and you know I love a good British woodland theme to work to.
The above design was the finished artwork for the keg labels, whilst below the illustration was adapted to fit their beer can labels.
Huge congratulations to Matt Newton for his beautiful winning design!
Valentines Day 2022
This years love cards have finally landed in my shop and I think it’s safe to say there’s something for everyone.
Returning favourites For My Valentine and Cosmic Love are relisted this year, alongside some new designs which I hope you’ll love!
No one does love better than Stevie Wonder, so naturally a valentines card was needed inspired by one of the greatest love songs. Drawing inspiration from vintage stamp designs, and keeping to a fresh candy coloured palette, my latest love card is perfect not just for Valentine’s Day but for any love occasion.
I know that Valentine’s can be a little tricky for some, and over the years amazing new traditions have come about such as Galentine’s Day and Palentine’s Day to include more people who deserve recognition just as much as the next loved up couple. So I wanted to create a truly personalisable love card that could be gifted to anyone. Enter my ‘Sun and Stars’ design which can be personalised with any greeting of love. I have a few examples which you can choose from, or if you have a recipient in mind write your own wording.
All my cards are printed on 100% recycled material and are never shipped in cellophane so your cards of love return the love back to our planet.
Need to see more designs? Check out my full greeting card selection here.
I’d love to know what you think! Drop your comments below or shoot me an email.
Deborah
Mental Health as an Illustrator and Mother // Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
Freelancing and motherhood. What a rollercoaster it has been so far.
I often have people say to me, “I don’t know how you do it, working from home with a toddler!” or “you must be so disciplined to get any work done at home, I’d be so distracted”. And yes, a lot of that is true and is also extremely flattering.
The thing is, I am a complete imposter, because you see the problem is I am not nailing it one bit. One human being (or should I say woman because let’s face it, this isn’t necessarily an issue for all working men…) cannot be 100% full time working and 100% full time mum.
Freelancing and motherhood. What a rollercoaster it has been so far.
I often have people say to me, “I don’t know how you do it, working from home with a toddler!” or “you must be so disciplined to get any work done at home, I’d be so distracted”. And yes, a lot of that is true and is also extremely flattering.
The thing is, I am a complete imposter, because you see the problem is I am not nailing it one bit. One human being (or should I say woman because let’s face it, this isn’t necessarily an issue for all working men…) cannot be 100% full time working and 100% full time mum.
Those are two separate full time jobs, in their own right, and the maths doesn’t work. So what happens is the inevitable; comparison, guilt, feelings of failure and then the ‘all expected but not expected at all because you’ve been lying to yourself’ crash.
I had mine back in September/October. I may have been portraying that I was nailing this working mum malarky all over the internet (because I’m just as guilty of doing that as anyone else), like a multi-armed goddess, but really I was at the start of what was to be a sharp downward arc. I had come off my meds so myself and my husband could have another baby, and whilst I was only on a low dose anyway I was not prepared for how I would feel just coming off that mixed with the hormonal tsunami that consumed me with getting pregnant.
I felt ill. Not just mentally, but physically, like I had never experienced with Ophelia. Having both the mental and physical battering made my mum guilt multiply when I couldn’t play with Ophelia the same, or couldn’t make it out the house. Then the work guilt would kindly join in when I didn’t feel I could sit at my desk and work, or have the mental capacity to open an email.
Comparison was often rife when I would see other mums just being totally amazing and not complaining one single bit. Mum’s who had it much worse than me, or more children, or more work pressures. Single mums, and mums on lower incomes. Mums with unsupportive partners or distanced family.
I’d sit there and think, “woman, what’s wrong with you? You have a very supportive and loving husband, family all around, a gorgeous toddler and another healthy baby on the way. A freelance career you’ve worked hard for. A house you own. What could you possibly be feeling sad about?”
But I just was. I didn’t feel good enough, or worthy of anyone’s time or attention. I didn’t feel special, or interesting, or that any of my feelings were valid.
Because that’s what happens when you tell yourself something enough times; you actually believe it.
With the help of my perinatal support worker, my MBCT group, my family and close friends and even my pregnancy yoga class, I’ve managed to make it to the 8 1/2 month mark in pregnancy. I’m feeling pretty battered and bruised from the journey to get here (let’s throw in my dad getting sick and going to hospital, Ophelia going to A&E, heavy work loads, and of course lockdown and a pandemic…) but remarkably, I’m still going.
I am anything but stubborn.
A lot has been acceptance, which I’ve only managed to achieve through time, space, meditation, journalling, talking to my loved ones and (within lockdown rules) getting out in the sun and walking it out. The pandemic has stripped me of a lot of things that used to help me cope and manage my mood, but it’s also shown me that I can be adaptable and I can weather it.
Depression and anxiety when you have kids, as well as running your own business, can feel like the worst thing to befall you because it’s up to you to keep your shit together, to be accountable, to make sure you get up so you can play with your kid. I’d feel this pressure to be sure I was on top of everything, despite how I was feeling. To put dinner on the table. To answer that important email or fulfil that order because it’s got to go to the Post Office.
I used to worry constantly that the way I am would affect Ophelia, would rub off on her and make her unhappy, but honestly what I see in her is total compassion. When I’m having a bad day, or just a really good cry, she comes over and she gives me her bunnies to soothe me. She’ll say “It’s ok mummy, Flossy will make you feel better and then your tears can go”.
She’s seen all emotions, not just the super shiny positive ones, and I’m starting to think that’s actually a really good thing. It allows her to be sad and to feel whatever feelings she has. It gives her the permission to feel whatever she needs to, no judgement, and the amazing thing is the sooner she acknowledges how she’s feeling the quicker she moves on from it.
Honestly, we could all be more like a three year old in some ways.
I’m not ‘cured’ and I’ve stopped expecting that this will be something I will get rid of completely. It’s just something I have to manage the best I can, and hopefully once the pandemic is over the coping mechanisms that used to help me manage my thoughts and mood can be put back in place; seeing friends and family, long walks out in the countryside and plenty of adventures.
Maybe I’ll go back on meds once baby is born, maybe I’ll just need a new form of therapy. I can make those decisions once he’s earth side and we’ve settled into our new family of four.
So I’m really writing this for any of you who are struggling, silently or with the aid of our amazing NHS. For anyone who has ever felt like they are just the worst mother ever, or that they haven’t got it all together and they should. For those who feel like a failure because they chose to work over staying at home, or because they chose to stay at home and not work. For any of you juggling and wondering when you will ever be able to do one job 100%. And I’m writing this for me too, because I need to hear it(and remind myself) just as much that I am worthy of good things too.
Remember:
You’re doing great.
Just keep going.
Deborah x
If you ever feel that life, and stuff, is getting too much there are some amazing people out there who you can talk to if you feel that you can’t talk to friends and family. PANDA’S Foundation have a free phone line you can call 0808 1961 776, as well as the Samaritans who you can contact on 116 123. Of course your GP will be there too to help and guide you, so please seek help if you’re struggling.
Hello 2020! A little look back at 2019 (PART II)
Carrying on from Part I, I’m sharing all the things that brought me joy, and made me proud in 2019, from July through to December.
Carrying on from Part I, I’m sharing all the things that brought me joy, and made me proud in 2019, from July through to December.
JULY
Prints arrived of my new ‘Prove them Wrong’ design and I was over the moon with how gorgeous the foiling turned out.
Then I was off to London to sell at the House of Illustration Summer Fair!
Ophelia had her first trip to the Golden Mile in Leicester, and her first taste of the exquisite Bobby’s.
Renovations continued, this time taking the carpet up in our bedroom to reveal these stained floorboards.
More eco swaps - this time for a disposable razor and shaving soap bar which I bought from Shop Zero Nottingham
We then did a little up-cycling project to breathe some life into some old garden furniture my Dad had passed onto us…
… with just some garden furniture paint from Wilkos!
Our old, worn doors came off…
…and were replaced with these beautiful new composite doors.
I was asked to paint Puneet’s beautiful logo on a feature wall of her new Wedding Ring Workshop (and boy, was that a hot week!)
Nottingham’s Pride brought so much colour and positive energy to what was a VERY wet day
And Ophelia had her first proper visit to the Gurdwara for a family member’s birthday.
AUGUST
I started August working on a design for a totally new product
More eco swaps, this time this gorgeous shampoo bar when my bottled shampoo ran out.
The Nottingham Etsy Team leaders came over and we had the incredibly hard task of choosing who we were going to pick to sell for Etsy Made Local! It took us a few hours with many snacks/cups of tea.
Our beautiful friends Dan and Ruby tied the knot in the most amazing wedding venue - and I mean, look at Ruby!
I designed some custom privacy vinyl for the glass in our new front door and it casts the dreamiest shadows on our floor!
I had a wonderful client meeting with Matthew, author of The Alphabet Children, at this amazing cafe called Fika. We hatched some awesome illustrated plans for his book!
I made some edits to an existing pattern I had created for Lola’s Apothecary and these beautiful samples came in the post.
I started work on a new print design….
And in the summer sun we visited more stately homes and festivals celebrating Mother Nature.
SEPTEMBER
I designed the promotional materials for our Nottingham Etsy Made Local - and it was exciting to start shouting about our event at our new venue in the Council House.
That moon illustrated back in August? Got turned into this huge wall hanging!
I finished designing my Christmas cards! These were my best ever selling designs for Christmas, and I can’t tell you how thankful I was for every re-order (there were 5!)
My Grandad (who’s is bossing life at 92 by the way) treated myself and my mum to a day at Ragdale Hall Spa
The Nottingham Etsy Team had another amazing meet up, this time with a talk from the incredibly talented and switched on business coach Debbiedoodah , who talked to us about the importance of email marketing.
Injected with that new enthusiasm from Debbie’s talk I decided to put more effort into my email marketing and started creating illustrated freebies for my email subscribers.
I joined with the Global Climate Strike in the Nottingham Market Square, standing in solidarity with children and adults alike to try and make positive change for our climate crisis.
We had more adventures, this time at Newstead Abbey
OCTOBER
I created my first downloadable product for Etsy, these print at home Halloween Masks in a wolf, black cat and bat design.
The seasons started to change…
and we went pumpkin picking in the biggest mud field you’d ever seen!
NOVEMBER
We had a magical bonfire night
More autumnal walks which are honestly my favourite
Oh yes, more renovations! This time getting rid of the awful dark/grey brown vinyl in our kitchen, and getting this faux Victorian tile vinyl.
For the first time ever I sold at the Craft Fair Contemporary and it was amazing!
And then a family of 3 became a family of 4…
That monkey illustration from a few months ago? Got turned into these awesome patch t-shirts for kids!
Etsy Made Local Nottingham finally arrived and it was our biggest and best event to date! (photo courtesy of the Nottingham Etsy Team)
DECEMBER
We kicked off December, and a little post Etsy Made Local come down, with some festive eating
And fetive activities like this beautiful light show at Belton House gardens
I designed more freebies for my amazing newsletter subscribers
And finally visited the vegetarian restaurant of dreams, No. Twelve.
Keeping our Christmas more eco I stamped a HUGE roll of recycled brown paper to wrap all our gifts in.
We painted our bedroom!
I was then back in London for the House of Illustration Winter Fair!
After wrapping up some commissions and smaller projects it was then time to unwind for Christmas with plenty of family visits, biscuit baking and a huge vegetarian feast for Christmas!
We ended 2019 out in the garden; fire on, hot chocolates in hand, enjoying all of our neighbours fireworks!
Phew! What a year! If you made it to the end of this two part blog post spectacular I applaud you.
I hope this inspires you to go back through photos of your 2019 to see the highlights and celebrate all the wins you achieved. I was so cynical about the whole thing before I started writing this post, but I have to say it has been cathartic, and an incredibly powerful way of owning my own achievements. Just documenting it here has been a process, and I have to say it’s given me a very positive surge of work energy for the year ahead!
We have so much to look forward to this year - welcoming our baby boy into the world being the main thing we’re gearing up towards - but I would love to know what things you’re looking forward to in 2020 and what things you were proud of in 2019?
Hello 2020! A little look back at 2019 (PART I)
A very happy (and belated) New Year to all of you!
There’s nothing like a new year, let alone a brand new decade, to bring out the sentimentality in people. It’s been both interesting and a little depressing watching through everyone’s round up’s of 2019 via Instagram (I get it, you guys got to have a lot of holidays whilst we never made it out of the UK!) but I thought it would still be nice to share what a wonderful year it was - minus holidays - both work and in personal life, to maybe help myself not have so much FOMO.
A very happy (and belated) New Year to all of you!
There’s nothing like a new year, let alone a brand new decade, to bring out the sentimentality in people. It’s been both interesting and a little depressing watching through everyone’s round up’s of 2019 via Instagram (I get it, you guys got to have a lot of holidays whilst we never made it out of the UK!) but I thought it would still be nice to share what a wonderful year it was - minus holidays - both work and in personal life, to maybe help myself not have so much FOMO.
Who am I kidding, I’ll still be wildly jealous, but it’s been wonderful looking through photos of all the work we’ve put in this year; renovations to our 1940’s house, birthdays, amazing commissions and wonderful events I was privileged to take part in.
JANUARY
I started the year with working on fresh designs for Valentine’s Day
I also started the 30 day Dedicate Yoga program by Yoga with Adrienne to get myself in a better exercise regime
I was finally prescribed with some glasses for working in to help with all those teeny tiny illustrations!
Amazing meet ups with the other leaders of the Nottingham Etsy Team
Worked on designs for my friends party invitations for her son…
FEBRUARY
We started work again on renovating our 1940’s home - starting with taking up the carpet on the stairs and landing and revealing these beautiful floorboards.
My new Valentine’s collection launched and I had the pleasure of posting them out!
In my bid to make 2019 my year for making my home and business more eco friendly, I started making small swaps around the house when things broke/wore out.
We had plenty of cold but beautiful walks in and around Nottinghamshire.
And then we had our old gas fire taken out…
Ophelia had her first trip to London to visit her Auntie.
Then I had the pleasure of talking about my illustrated business and how I started out illustrating at the Select Vegan networking event.
I mean, look at the spread they put on…
MARCH
I started designing invitations for Ophelia’s 2nd Birthday.
After my unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign, I finally released my Eat Kind meal planners into the world - my first 100% recycled and eco friendly product (including packaging).
We had snow!
I started my creative business coaching journey with Amy from Women Who Create
Then we had the loveliest little weekend away to Stamford visiting stately homes, beautiful tea rooms, and then this church near Rutland.
More renovations carried on, finishing off our fireplace with these gorgeous star tiles for the hearth.
And just like that, our Ophelia turned two.
APRIL
Using the designs from my friends party invites, I created my first range of sophisticated children’s age cards, which have been received so well.
I also designed some new Easter cards featuring this Victorian style Easter bunny
We sanded and painted our staircase!
And then went on to paint our living room this awesome pink colour called Pink Alabaster by Valspar
MAY
We started May trying to make another eco swap with locally delivered fruit and vegetables from Kerry’s Fresh
More house updates, making our little balcony/patio out the back into an outdoor living room ready for summer!
I had the pleasure on working on this beautiful branding for Out of the Woods Hypnotherapy
Worked out in the sun and rain for the Sutton Bonington Summer Festival.
More lovely Etsy Team meet up’s at Debbie Bryan’s
And finally, celebrated 5 years of marital bliss in the best way we know - with the best vegetarian burgers in Nottingham at Annie’s Burger Shack
JUNE
We started June with the loveliest impromptu trip to Matlock
Then I saw my latest surface design for Godâ Skjorter come to life in these beautiful Hawaiian style shirts.
It was my birthday! And my mum made the tastiest banana cake.
I had the second product from my Eat Kind collection release, these beautiful screen printed tea towels.
I finished the month starting work on a new print
Check out my next post for July-December of my 2019 journey!
New in the Shop!
Well, it’s been a minute hasn’t it?
Summer came and went so quickly as I had some really lovely commissions to work on (that I can’t quite talk about right now) but in between all my secret client work I was busy beavering away on some new products.
Driving Home for Christmas card range is now available in my shop
Well, it’s been a minute hasn’t it?
Summer came and went so quickly as I had some really lovely commissions to work on (that I can’t quite talk about right now) but in between all my secret client work I was busy beavering away on some new products.
First up is my new design, Celestial Moon Phase Print, which I had in mind as a Halloween print but kind of just love it as an everyday piece!
Perfect for any lunar lover, this large scale fabric print features delicate pen illustrations of the moon as she moves through her phases from new to full. An intricate mandala style design features in the middle, connecting the phases of the moon in her journey. Hand drawn punjabi at the bottom reads 'Phases of the Moon' (and I have it on good authority from my in-laws that it reads correct!)
In line with my goal for 2019 to be a more sustainable and eco friendly business, I have had these A3 prints printed on recycled silk stock to give a beautiful slick finish. You can even request it to be shipped without cellophane to help reduce the plastic going out into the world.
I then went and scratched an itch I had had for quite a while and turned my new Celestial Moon Phase design into this beautiful large wall hanging piece!
Printed on linen cotton canvas, this one of a kind piece measures 90cm wide x 132cm high! I always feel like illustrations have a different feeling when they’re printed on fabric, and this one is no exception.
Finally, I launched my Christmas card collection ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ which has to be one of my favourites.
Capturing the spirit of the great journey home to celebrate Christmas with nearest and dearest, this new collection features 3 different card designs; A badger in an old Morris Minor, a bunny on a bicycle, and a mouse pulling a sledge, all laden with presents.
All my cards are available in singles, or in packs of 6 or 12, and come with the option to be ‘naked’ or posted with biodegradable cellophane/presentation boxes.
House of Illustration Summer Fair Round Up
What an honour it was to have been invited back again to the House of Illustration summer fair the other week!
I’ve been a bit behind in getting this post written up due to some lovely client work I’ve been beavering away on, but still wanted to share some of my favourite illustrators from the fair who I had the pleasure of meeting.
What an honour it was to have been invited back again to the House of Illustration summer fair the other week!
I’ve been a bit behind in getting this post written up due to some lovely client work I’ve been beavering away on, but still wanted to share some of my favourite illustrators from the fair who I had the pleasure of meeting.
Miss Ella’s beautiful illustrated laser cut jewellery
Miss Ella Illustrator
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Ella from when I studied at Norwich University of the Arts back in 2007-2010, and since graduating I’ve been seeing her beautiful work at various events across London. Her jewellery is just so imaginative and whimsical, and I am totally in love with those pink moon earrings.
Aleesha Nandhra’s postcard selection
Aleesha Nandhra
It was so lovely to meet Aleesha at the last House of Illustration fair back in December - especially when we realised that she was a distant relative of my husbands! Needless to say it was great to meet back up again (along with her amazing mum) to see the beautiful new work she’s been creating. She’s been travelling around the world (check out her visit to Nepal) and you see how these beautiful experiences have influenced her work.
Beautiful linocuts by Aurore Swithenbank
Aurore Swithenbank
Plants? Check. Black on natural card? Check. Insects? Check check! All the things I love and more. It wasn’t just her gorgeous artwork that I was head over heels for, but her display stole my heart (LOVED that she brought along her linocuts) as did her gorgeous hand typed business cards. It just shows that it’s the little things that really make a difference.
House of Illustration Summer Fair held at The Crossing in Granary Square
There were so many more illustrators I wanted to shout about but I’m pretty sure you don’t have all day to scroll through it all. So here were some of my extra favourites:
I absolutely love coming to this fair as I always come away so inspired by the talent there. It’s so easy to remain in your little creative echo chamber but stepping out of this comfort zone always gives me the fire to try and do something new or pursue one of my illustration project dreams (and that list is long).
Fingers crossed I can make it to the Christmas event, and perhaps see you there!
House of Illustration Summer Fair
SUPER excited to announce that I have got in (again!) to the House of Illustration Summer Fair!
SUPER excited to announce that I have got in (again!) to the House of Illustration Summer Fair!
I did it for the first time last year at Christmas, and as well as meeting some amazing illustrators (including a long lost relative Aleesha Nandhra!) I got to chat to all you love humans who support and believe in the Illustration industry.
So I’ll be back this year, Saturday 13th July at The Crossing (near Granary Square) bringing my cards, prints and stationery, as well as my Eat Kind kitchen collection!
Hope to see you there!
Hawaaian Shirts From a Small Danish Island
One of the main reasons I love being a freelance illustrator is that I literally never know what I’m going to find in my inbox. I get a lot of requests, some bizarre, and some curious, and some just plain amazing. This project was definitely the latter.
One of the main reasons I love being a freelance illustrator is that I literally never know what I’m going to find in my inbox. I get a lot of requests, some bizarre, and some curious, and some just plain amazing. This project was definitely the latter.
When I heard from Niels, founder of Godâ Skjorter, his vision was simple but also quirky; create Hawaiian style shirts using landmarks from the small Danish island of Bornholm. I wondered how well the muted and nordic coastline, buildings and smoked fish would translate into a Hawaiian shirt homage but it didn’t take me long to find out.
As soon as I started drawing the elements and piecing them together, the more I started to see his vision. And it was wonderful.
I was so enamoured with the landmarks I was drawing, I was wishing I too could visit there. It just looked so beautiful, and perhaps one day we will make it there and I can tell Ophelia, ‘Mummy drew that on a shirt’.
Now seeing the print translated onto fabric, it has taken a new life of it’s own. I’m excited for Niels’ venture, not just because it’s his brainchild and that’s a precious thing, but also because it’s always special to meet someone who has a true passion for where they live.
Take a look at Niels’ website to see more details on these lovely shirts, as well as to take a peek at another artists interpretation of the Bornholm magic.
MediCity Mural
More and more often I'm getting asked to paint murals for many different building for many purposes; signage, decorative display and statement wall pieces. However my latest wall mural piece is by far the biggest to add to my repertoire.
Measuring 6 metres wide by 3 metres high, this mural of a lush green British landscape has found a new home at the Grade 1 listed MediCity building in Nottingham.
More and more often I'm getting asked to paint murals for many different building for many purposes; signage, decorative display and statement wall pieces. However my latest wall mural piece is by far the biggest to add to my repertoire.
Measuring 6 metres wide by 3 metres high, this mural of a lush green British landscape has found a new home at the Grade 1 listed MediCity building in Nottingham.
I won't lie and tell you this piece was a breeze, because as they say, all great things are by far the most challenging! Creating digital files that can scale up beautifully to such a large size was part of the problem, especially when your work isn't vector! However husband-graphic-designer-genius Avnish helped me immensely to navigate around Illustrator in order to vectorise my work, and once we solved that problem the rest fell into place.
The next challenge though was seeing the finished print. Was the design going to come out pixellated? Would it fit the exact measurements of the wall? Poor Avnish was on tenterhooks on fitting day, but amid his hidden anxiety he managed to capture some beautiful time lapses of the piece going up. The finished article? Well, watch for yourself:
It's been such a privilege to work on this mural piece for the BioCity team; not only did they have the faith in me to produce such a large, detailed, and risky piece, but they also have given me the amazing opportunity to have my illustration work permanently in a Grade 1 listed Art Deco building.
I mean, how many people can say that?!
Have a browse through the gallery below to see more shots from the installation day. I would love to know what you think so feel free to drop me a message or leave a comment below!
Handmade Fair Giveaway
It's just over a month to go till the Handmade Fair at Ragley Hall, and whilst I still have lots (if not all) prep to do, I'm really excited to share a super giveaway with you!
[EDIT: 6/4/18]
It's just over a month to go till the Handmade Fair at Ragley Hall, and whilst I still have lots (if not all) prep to do, I'm really excited to share a super giveaway with you!
The lovely people at The Handmade Fair have gifted me 5 complimentary tickets to give away to my wonderful customers, thats you guys! These free tickets give you free entry to the fair, to enjoy the shopping village (where I'll be) plus some quirky food and drink stands. Should you so wish to upgrade to the full experience ticket, for a reduced fee, you will then be able to enjoy entry to one Super Theatre, Grand Make, and Skills Workshop of your choice.
Never heard of the Handmade Fair?
Aside from being a fun day out, the Fair is packed with opportunities to get creative and learn from the experts in craft. The Super Theatre will be hosted by Kirstie Allsopp each day and will be featuring exciting talks from some of the country’s best-loved creatives including Keith Brymer Jones, Edith Bowman, Anthony Devine and more. Plus, with a programme full of hands-on workshops, live demo’s and Q&As to choose from across the weekend, you’ll be sure to come away feeling inspired, and with a bundle of skills and knowledge to take home.
Sounding good? Entering the giveaway is quite simple; you can enter twice by either subscribing to my mailing list, or by leaving a comment on this blog post describing what you would love to see me selling at the fair.
Boring bits; by subscribing to my mailing list through this giveaway you are agreeing to receiving email communications from myself. You can however unsubscribe at any time if you decide my emails are not for you, and I promise to NEVER share your details with anyone else or send you spam.
Giveaway closes on the 9th April 12am GMT and winners will be announced on the 10th April 8pm GMT
Good luck!
Choosing the path less Notonthehighstreet
If you have been following me on Instagram recently, you may have seen my frustrated InstaStories detailing some strange and rather unacceptable behaviour from that well known online selling platform: Notonthehighstreet.
If you have been following me on Instagram recently, you may have seen my frustrated InstaStories detailing some strange and rather unacceptable behaviour from that well known online selling platform: Notonthehighstreet.
Last month I received this email in my inbox:
Ouch. The 'low sales performance' part got me feeling that sweaty nervous feeling you would get at school when you knew you hadn't done the homework and you'd been rumbled. However, let's not forget the little human I birthed into the world - I think it's safe to say my time was more tied up in keeping her alive than worrying about my sales performance.
The 'completing the form' section then switched up my guilt from feeling like a 'seemingly pathetic businesswoman who has poor sales and has been reminded of her failures' to a 'businesswoman who is now being asked to jumped through hoops after being insulted'.
Why does this fill me with anger?
Because for the past year NOTHS have made it increasingly difficult to be able to just list items to trial on the site. There were specific guidelines and trends to adhere to as well as strict photography rules. Generally, it made the whole process 10x longer to list one print, than, say, to list said print on Etsy and test the waters.
No testing the waters here, you must have said print in perfect listing condition before submitting it to the powers at be. (and don't get me started on the ridiculous reasons why they haven't accepted some of my products. That is another trial in itself...)
So after all this hoop jumping, and then to have received this insulting email, the spoilt brat in me was stamping their feet and wondering why the hell I should invest more of my energy into a company who didn't seem too invested in keeping my business. Business that I give back to them, no matter how meagre my scraps of commission are that they receive.
I had paid to be with this reputable company, and not only having paid an upfront fee I paid commission on each of those sales. Now, I know what I agreed to when I signed up with notonthehighstreet, and I knew the commission and the fee went back into their advertising campaigns, their support team and the networking events they run. I was totally fine with that because that made sense.
Service + Product = £££ to pay out
However, what doesn't make sense to me is to treat myself (a paying partner) like I'm a freeloader. I'm not using the site for free, I'm paying to be with them. A customer. I'm not just using up the time of paid hardworking team members and gleaning profit from the sale of my products without paying something back into it.
Look at it this way, you wouldn't be refused something that you've paid for in a shop simply because suddenly the shop decided that you just couldn't have it, for whatever reason they chose.
Imagine if, God forbid, Netflix told you that even though you're paying to use their services, they've deemed that 10 hours of usage a week is not enough and you can't use the service unless you up your Netflix binging.
Let's pray that will never happen.
I may have tweeted NOTHS in the heat of the moment, to the in justice of it all, and credit to them they arranged for someone from the company to call me to discuss the matter further.
And she was about as useful as a hat with the hole in the top.
So a week passed and then my suspension email arrived:
I thought I would feel more eager to fill in said questionnaire and restore my shop but I decided no. Why should I keep investing my money in a company who clearly doesn't seem to value my business?
Couple this with an atrocious incident of stealing a personal photo from another partner who had been suspended in order to generate PR and sales, and I decided that I had enough of complaining about them and thought it was time to make a clean break.
This was the perfect moment to start a new journey and take my business down a new and more personal route: To invest more energy into my own shop and carry on with the most supportive selling platform I've ever used, Etsy.
The past 3 years have not been lost, and I am grateful to NOTHS for the support and help I received in learning about trends, mood boards, product development and product photography.
I guess some relationships just aren't meant to last, and I wish them all the success in the next steps of their business. Truly. I'm not sure the way they're running their business is the best way to go about it, but I hope they seriously know what they're doing for the sake of the employees who maybe don't know what the experience is like on the other side of the market place; as a partner.
To all of you reading this who are considering selling with them: Do your research. This is just my own experience, and no doubt there are other partners out there who have had a totally different one.
Negotiate the fees with them. Confront them about experiences you've heard. Gauge what they're going to do for you after you've parted with your very hard earned money.
To all of you who do sell with them: I hope you can get the most out of your experience with NOTHS. I hope your business can flourish, and I hope you have better luck with them than I did.
Keep hustlin' guys ✌🏻
National Treasures Food Map Illustration
Grab yourself a copy of this month's Asda's Good Living magazine and you'll be able to see one of my illustrations as a double page spread!
Grab yourself a copy of this month's Asda's Good Living magazine and you'll be able to see one of my illustrations as a double page spread!
I had the pleasure of working on this commission from Hearst publishing for a wonderful piece on some of the UK's best food products (I'm all over the Rodda's classic clotted cream) and it's still so exciting to see my work in print, on the shelves nationwide!
This piece has now been added to my Illustration portfolio, which you can browse through here.
On another note, some of you may have seen from my Instagram and Facebook that I am officially on Maternity leave! I won't be accepting any new commissions for the time being, however my husband, Avnish, will be running my shops & website and publishing blog posts for me whilst I'm away. If you drop me an email, he will be sure to reply ASAP.
Cats in Wonderland
It's finally happened - I contributed to my first ever colouring book! And what better business to create artwork for than for Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium - London's top cat cafe where each of their cats have their own profile on the website that perfectly describes each of their unique personalities.
It's finally happened - I contributed to my first ever colouring book! And what better business to create artwork for than for Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium - London's top cat cafe where each of their cats have their own profile on the website that perfectly describes each of their unique personalities.
I was asked to contribute a page of kitty inspired colouring artwork alongside other favourites Gemma Correll, Ella Goodwin, and Linkachuu to name a few.
Gemma Correll for Cats In Wonderland
Abbie Gregory for Cats in Wonderland
I wanted to create something that incorporated all the lovely cats of the cafe (it was too hard not to choose one!) and create a montage/pattern page.
The colouring book is exclusively for sale through Lady Dinah's website and you can even choose to add crayons, or have it as a gift set.
I've been so lucky to work with some amazing clients, like Lady Dinah's, over the year and am excited to see what 2017 has in store. This isn't my last post of 2016 so you'll be hearing from me again on the other side of Christmas with a bumper blog post sharing some highlights from an insane 2016.
So it goes without saying I hope you enjoy some lovely time off with your nearest and dearest, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Illustrators for Mental Health
It's World Mental Health Day, and in celebration of a cause that's quite close to my heart I wanted to share something that combines two aspects of my life; illustration and mental health.
Here are some of my favourite illustrators bringing to life how it feels some days to live with a mental health illness:
©Annie Dornan Smith.
Purchase Illustrated Affirmation print via anniedornansmithdesign.co.uk
It's World Mental Health Day, and in celebration of a cause that's quite close to my heart I wanted to share something that combines two aspects of my life; illustration and mental health.
Here are some of my favourite illustrators bringing to life how it feels some days to live with a mental health illness:
Gemma Correll
Image by Gemma Correll
Fellow graduate from Norwich University of the Arts, Gemma Correll is a British illustrator, writer and comic artist living and working in California. She creates humorous and accurate depictions of what it's like to live with clinical anxiety and depression, and has even written a book entitled The Worriers Guide to Life documenting her candid and hilarious depictions of overthinking in an anxiety riddled world.
“The illustrations were all inspired by my own anxieties and neuroticisms ... I suffer from clinical anxiety and depression and I find that the best way to deal with it is to find humour in it.
I honestly think that humour can be a saviour at times of distress or, if you just live with a constant level of anxiety and depression like I do. ”
Emily Coxhead
©Emily Coxhead
This notebook is the first thing I ever came across from Emily Coxhead, photographer, illustrator and designer based in Chorley, UK. Her work is a fuel injection of positivity and warmth, particularly her creation The Happy Newspaper which she funded through Kickstarter.
“I wanted to create something that celebrated people, their kindness and recognised the magic in people we walk past and know nothing about, the ‘everyday heroes’. I realised there are so many people going through difficult times, from tiny things to humongous, life-changing things. I thought if I could help in a small way through my letters, scribbled notes and silly little drawings, I could maybe make a few people smile and remind them that things will get better.
The simple idea was: there should be a newspaper that does the opposite of all the current newspapers, one that celebrates what’s good in the world and is cool and colourful to look at.”
María Sanoja
©María Sanoja
Brooklyn based artist María Sanoja was mindlessly walking down a street, over-thinking, when she bumped into this exact a-frame. What happened from that moment on was a project that would reveal the amazing contrast between our everyday surroundings and truly the analogue that runs through our minds.
“I was overthinking, as usual, when I bumped into this blackboard outside a café that I pass by every day. I realized that I’m often so absorbed in my own thoughts that I miss the simple, beautiful things that surround me. My overthinking often keeps me from being present.
For 100 days, I will make an effort to be here and now. I will get out of my own head to see what I have been missing. Each day, I will draw something that I notice around me, and I will pair it with whatever it is that I’m overthinking, in an attempt to be more aware and learn to let go.”
Marissa Betley
Artist Marissa Betley's incredible 1 in 4 project is another 100 day illustrated project to help raise awareness of mental health issues which occur, as the project's name so aptly describes, to 1 in 4 adults in their lifetime. The artist interviewed a range of people with varying disorders that include depression and schizophrenia, describing on her website, "these people are our family members, our friends, our co-workers and our neighbours. Love and support makes all the difference."
“Each story has been unique and I have been incredibly inspired by the constant thread of courageousness and bravery showcased by everyone I have interviewed ... It’s not easy to open up about these things, so I am very grateful to all who have contributed in the name of helping others.
What has been most shocking to me is the more I talk about mental health, it seems everyone can relate to the topic, yet so few are talking about it.
”
Siobhan Gallagher
©Siobhan Gallagher
New York based illustrator and designer Siobhan Gallagher, uses her amazing Instagram account (@siogallagher) to share her illustrations that try to de-myth the 'polished' look of the Instagram life, a world we all think is real but is truly not reality.
“We’re imperfect, scared, anxious and depressed – but we’re willing to share and relate to others ... Some social media accounts are so curated and polished to make it seem like people are living perfect lives with perfectly posed experiences and bodies, and that’s just not interesting ... I’d rather share my interior life through drawing, because those thoughts are more real and relatable.”
Deborah Panesar Textiles shop is now here!
I am SO excited to FINALLY reveal my brand new online store: Deborah Panesar Textiles!
I am SO excited to FINALLY reveal my brand new online store: Deborah Panesar Textiles!
For the past few months I've been working hard to create a new Etsy store just for all my textile pieces, which I have felt needed a separate home rather than being muddled amongst my stationery pieces.
It's been a true labour of love, working hard to improve on my previous lines with new fabrics, linings and a whole new look, as well as working on creating 'seasons' of designs. After having to delay it's launch due to delays, problems with printing and a spot of poor health, the store is now live and kicking and features some old favourites as well as spring/summer16 designs. New products, and my Autumn/Winter16 collection, will available from October so keep your eyes peeled for exciting new things!
Feel free to browse my new store via Etsy, and should you wish to see new products when they're revealed either click 'favourite shop' or sign up to mailing list (no spam, I promise!)
Thought Catalogue & Brianna Wiest
It's been a busy old time in the studio working on lots of top secret projects, however I'm really excited to share with you some new work which I have created for Brianna Wiest's book, The Truth About Everything.
I was commissioned to create the new cover for the books re-release, published through Thought Catalogue.
It's been a busy old time in the studio working on lots of top secret projects, however I'm really excited to share with you some new work which I have created for Brianna Wiest's book, The Truth About Everything.
I was commissioned to create the new cover for the books re-release, published through Thought Catalogue.
"Life is an uncertain morphing of the beautiful and devastating, the reckless and ordained, the inconsequential and cataclysmal. In this first compilation of her work, Brianna Wiest writes about her own experiences uncovering the life's greatest truths. The selected pieces are ones you'll turn to when you are in need of answers, comfort or a little tough love. Brianna writes from a place of solace and understanding, as "The Truth About Everything" asks you to challenge what you thought to be true, take the spiritual journey, and come out on the other end with your own story to tell."
You can pre-order Brianna's novel through Thought Catalogue, or purchase earlier copies of the book through Amazon.
Deborah x
Draw it, Print it, Ink it Publication
It's been pretty exciting here in the studio this weekend as I received my own copy of Draw it, Print it, Ink it by Pepper Baldwin, a new temporary tattoo book which features one of my custom temporary tattoo illustrations!
When I opened my Etsy shop back in 2010, temporary tattoos were one of my first initial products to hit the shelves, and you guys have been loving them ever since! Whilst launching and running my own lines, I have worked on a few temporary tattoo designs for other companies such as Pepper Ink, run by Pepper Baldwin, one of which you can now see in her latest publication!
It's been pretty exciting here in the studio this weekend as I received my own copy of Draw it, Print it, Ink it by Pepper Baldwin, a new temporary tattoo book which features one of my custom temporary tattoo illustrations!
When I opened my Etsy shop back in 2010, temporary tattoos were one of my first initial products to hit the shelves, and you guys have been loving them ever since! Whilst launching and running my own lines, I have worked on a few temporary tattoo designs for other companies such as Pepper Ink, run by Pepper Baldwin, one of which you can now see in her latest publication!
Draw it, Print it, Ink it helps is a fantastic resource and guide to help delve into the world of temporary tattoos - from using templates to figuring out size and placement, as well as giving step by step guides to creating your own tattoos at home. The remainder of the book is a beautiful source of inspiration, broken down neatly into different categories.
And here is my little illustration! These herb illustrations were commissioned by Pepper last year and I'm so excited to now see them make the pages of her new publication.
If you're interested in creating your own temporary tattoos and fancy having a copy of Pepper's new book, you can purchase it through Amazon and it's publisher Octopus Books.
You can also view my own range and collection of temporary tattoo designs which include mermaids, unicorns, foxes and ships, through my Etsy Shop.
Happy Sunday!
Deborah x