Launched in 2000, I started out as a manufacturer of hand-made wedding stationery, creating innovative ranges that doubled as frameable keepsakes.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN...
Silk rose threaded through card with a label attached that read: ‘to have and to hold’
Feedback confirmed many of these cards ended up being framed or getting planted! One guest grew the blooms to make a spray for the wedding she’d been invited to!
Silk rose threaded through card with a label attached that read: ‘to have and to hold’
As well as having my designs featured in the national bridal
glossies shown here, I was fortunate enough to become the
recommended stationer at a number of prestigious venues
locally, generating orders via wedding fairs, bridal boutiques and gift shops in Yarm, Darlington, Durham, York and Leeds, while shipping to customers worldwide.
I blinked and 20 years zipped by, during which time my work gradually drifted away from manufacturing towards freelance illustration and design, a move that happily led to several image licensing deals, projects in character and merchandise development, and a publishing contract as a paper engineer.
Book packaging concept published by Egmont UK Ltd (2014)
Book packaging concept published by Egmont UK Ltd (2014)
TM Santoro (2006-2010) Animal puns used on several card ranges, stationery, plush toys, Tinami (TM) magnets, spinning cards, inflatable cards and foil balloons among other accessories.
Book packaging concept published by Egmont UK Ltd (2014)
These images reflect an exciting time in my career, with numerous business trips to the head offices of publishing industry giants, and a cheeky spot of shopping in London after each meeting. Even now I find it hard to believe I did it all in high heels.
With 20 years industry experience in image licensing and publishing, offering original digital illustrations, captions, and designs for commercial use, I can confirm the biggest perk of being an artist is getting a free set of your new range to store in a shoe box at the back of a wardrobe.​​​​
Before storing this particular set, I sent them to a few of my favourite people, asking for a message before they were put away for all eternity. Here's what I got back...
Signed by Bill Bailey
(What a legendary birder)
Signed by Stephen Fry
(What a lovely national treasure)
Signed by Victoria Wood
(What a loss to us all)
Signed by Simon 'Spaced' Pegg
(What a clever sausage)
Signed by Alan Davies
(What was going on with his pen?)
Signed by my Mum & Dad
MY TRAINING, QUALIFICATIONS, AND EARLY CAREER
I did my foundation course at Cleveland College of Art & Design, now known as the Northern School of Art & Design, before setting off to do a degree.
​
I left the University of Lincoln and Humberside in 1996 with a first class BA (Hons) Graphic Design and a genuine appreciation for Netto beans.
​
The following year I completed my PGCE (Secondary) Art & Design at the University of Leeds, studying at the quite beautiful Bretton Hall, located within the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
​
All set for a life-long career in teaching, I got a job in PR.
​
After a couple of years, my role involved organising corporate hospitality functions, and was nothing short of a dream start to a glittering future in event management.
​
Yes, a person would have to be quite cuckoo to give up such a job in favour of letting their creative juices run amuck.
