- When did you first realise that you were creative?
I have always loved drawing, I would be constantly making pictures and books and writing stories to go with them. I have been brought up by a very creative family. I don’t think I ever thought “I’m really creative” I just couldn’t help but do it!
- Did any teachers inspire you at school to get into the creative industry?
I had absolutely dreadful art teachers at high school, I mean the worst. That forced me to do more creative things outside of school. My mum was the head of the Art Foundation course I attended (in Bradford) and that was a really great course. That’s where I found out that you could do illustration at Art School. It hadn’t occurred to me before, I think illustration is much more popular than it was then (10 years ago).
- How important do you think art is for children when growing up?
Incredibly important! It’s a way of exploring the world and finding out who you are and what you’re interested in.
- Do you think it is important to keep art in the school curriculum, if so, why? Yes, but taught in a different way. It’s very prescriptive at school, not free and creative. I think people underestimate how knowing basic design skills can enhance your life, it’s seen as a frivolous thing to be interested in. You can see it when people expect you to do work for free because they assume you do it for fun. It’s not valued as highly as it should be.
- What was your experience at university both good and bad?
I loved it at Glasgow School of Art. The people and the place were really inspiring. I hadn’t really found my style or my niche then so I did struggle a bit. I think it’s OK to not have found your fully formed artistic style whilst you’re at art school, but the people who did best had mastered theirs, so I found it tough! I just used it as a chance to try out all sorts of things such as film making, animation, photography and painting.
- Did you find it hard to find yourself and your own creative style?
Is it hard to balance having your own time and work time?
It definitely took a while for me to get into my groove. That was partly down to being very reluctant to use computer programs to create my designs. Now I see them as a tool to aid me, rather than a hinderance. I rarely make designs without using photoshop now. It takes persistence and hours and hours of practice to start finding your style. Mine is still evolving all the time. I can’t help but do it all the time so I should probably have more days off. There’s just not enough time!
- What are the best and worst things about your job?
When you do what you used to do as a hobby as a job, it takes on a different feeling and sometimes can feel like you’re pumping out ideas all the time which is draining. I wouldn’t do anything else though. I love making products that make people smile. It can be quite lonely working from home on your own, but it’s great to have a connection on social media to see other illustrators doing the same thing. I feel like we’re all connected in a nice creative family across the world.
- What do you hope to achieve for the future?
I like running my business The Printed Peanut but don’t want to become a manager of accounts and logistics. I just want to do the designing! I would like to license my designs to other large companies so I don’t have to worry about manufacturing them and selling them too!
- Is it hard to stay motivated?
It can be hard to treat it like a normal 9-5 job as sometimes you just don’t feel like being creative. It’s quite exhausting because every design has thousands of decisions you have to make. I don’t think people realise how hard designers work. Sometimes I just have to cycle into town and go round the shops to have a brain cut off from thinking!
- Does your work vary at certain times of the year?
I think I am more productive in summer when it’s lighter for longer, but I like the mad gearing up for Christmas season where things are on at full pelt! I have had a cold every Christmas since I started my business though so I do get run down. I think I need some Christmas elves.
- If you couldn’t run your own business what other job do you think you would be doing?
Oh wow hard question! I always used to want to make films, or be a part of the film industry as I think it could be really interesting.
- Any creative people inspire you?
Yes! I love illustrators such as Nathalie Parain form the 1930s who made pictures using lithography and other traditional print methods. I find inspiration form all sorts of people such as fine artists like Matisse for his paper cut outs, Ravilious’ ceramics, Hockney’s etchings… I also love contemporary designers such as Donna Wilson, Sukie Studio, Yellow Owl Workshop and illustrators like Kaye Blegvad and Alice Pattullo.
- What is your best advice for young creatives?
You just have to do it all the time and don’t give up!
- Would you advise running their own business?
If you enjoy it! I never thought I would run a business but I do enjoy it and it’s a good way to have money trickling in, in between illustration jobs.
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