Back at my desk

Studio tour 2023

Happy new year everyone! Sorry it’s taken me quite a while to get organised and write this. I have been at my desk all last week though, as I have lots of deadlines to work towards this month. Happy to have finally found time for this update. I started the year with a big studio tidy up. And I even posted the visual evidence of this on my Instagram, just to celebrate the fact it was actually tidy for once.

Watch the reel here

I really feel like creating a happy, comfortable, working environment is key to getting some decent work done. I get most of my work done here, though I often plan a nice stress-free drawing, maybe a #dtiys, I can do on the sofa downstairs after the kids’ bedtime. iPads really show their worth at these times.

I have had some nice comments about the little creative nest I work in so I thought it would be a good idea to keep this first post light and give you a mini tour of some of my favourite pieces in my studio. It is so important to me to be to be surrounded by inspiring trinkets that make me feel good and I love to shop small and support indie businesses. Having these things around me makes me feel like I have friends here with me and I feel less lonely to be sat on my own all day.

Here is a little celebration of some of my fave bits with links:

Awesome Get Lost Pennant Flag by Hello Dodo

I LOVE this print by Ruth Burrows. Even though I’m usually sat here in leggings and a retro tee. Perfect for working in I suppose.

Woohoo new year and new Macha Yao calendar!! Absolutely love seeing this on my wall everyday. Macha has sooo many cute bits in her shop.

A drawing by me of my daughter and myself. I drew this on my birthday in 2020 and it was also the day I got contacted by my illustration agent about representation, so it’s very special to me.

Ingela P Arrhenius plant pot! Containing a plant that has seen better days…

One of my first ever commissions as a freelance illustrator! For Indie Roller and consists of some FABULOUS indie biz owners. If you are a small business owner then Leona is someone you definitely might want to follow.

My absolutely ADORABLE faux taxidermy axolotl by Zoogu. Anyone that knows me IRL knows I am OBSESSED with axolotls. RIP Poppop ❤️

A few boxes left over from my days as a novelty gift and packaging designer for Fizz Creations.

These amazing David Bowie and Frida Kahlo dolls by Paula and the Pencils. Think I’ve got my eye on the Prince doll next…

My wonderful Friday Doodle Club crew, painted by Sandra Eide

Motivational wooden banner by Dotty Black Gifts.

This cute wallpaper I designed for Mary Jones Studio, called Globetrotter by Clarke and Clarke.

I get most of my beautiful stationery from the amazing Happy Colour Shop.

These adorable felt cacti made by my very talented mum.

This lil paper doll my daughter made. Not for sale.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a few of the details, and maybe discovered an indie shop you might not have known about before. I love to shout about amazing people doing amazing things, so will definitely do another one of these in the future.

I have also spent some time getting my digital world organised. I have set up a Trello to keep tabs on all my projects. I’m usually really good as organising and remembering deadlines in my head, but now juggling so many projects it felt like the right time to outsource this task. It feels good to have all the deadlines and project statuses in front of me whenever I need to check. Do you have any good new year get organised tips? Any amazing indie biz shops you want to shout about? Let me know!

This month’s Illoguild newsletter prompt was to describe how you find focus after time away from your desk. Illoguild are a group of illustrators sharing their journeys with each other and the wider illustration community. There is so much goodness over on the Illoguild Substack if you want to find out more.