Fiona Wilson Prints

Hello Online events?  Have you done one?  What do you think?  Thought I'd share my thoughts. There are so many going on at the moment, I've done 6 myself so far this year and I keep being asked if I think they are worth it - the quick answer is - they can be , but it depends (you knew there would be more to it didn't you?) It depends on how involved you get, how much you prepare, how well you advertise that you are taking part, how well the organisers advertise it, the date its on, what else is going on that day, what the weather is like - you are probably starting to realise there are a lot of variables and as a result there are no guarantees. Some fairs might not be the right one for you.  Which is a bit like when you do real life fairs, but there are some different ways you can get ready for it and make the most of it while its happening and keep some of the momentum after the event. Below are some of my thoughts, tips, advice etc.. Things to do before the event... If y

I'm so pleased that Laura agreed to be  interviewed for my Blog, she's such a kind and lovely positive person - you are going to love her illustrations and she's launching a new business soon - so go give her a follow on her social media accounts so you can be the first to hear about it. 1. Tell us a bit about your business I’m an illustrator, I work on various projects from visual branding, to personalised wedding and family portraits. I also make and sell prints online through Etsy and more recently my own website.   I started my business after graduating from my BA Illustration course six years ago. Prior to that, I owned an independent gift and stationery shop on my local high street for ten years.   I worked really hard at university and was determined to make use of my illustration degree. I knew I had to work creatively and expressively, and I love finding new and enterprising ways to make a career through illustration. 2. What is your typical work day like and where

We have been wanting to sort out our workshop front for ages, but with a house renovation to do first, this has been waiting until we had time to give it some proper attention. My workshop and studio is based in an old Ginger Beer Factory - its had a few additions over the years, including a large window which I think must have been done in the 60's so its a bit of an eclectic mix and was a challenge to decide what would work as signage. It had to be called the Ginger Beer Factory - its a creative space as well as my studio and home to Rita my Riso machine, so that was the starting point for the design. We used Leek Signs, a local company who had been recommended, and so I sent off the design and they got started.  My partner, Andrew sprayed the letters once they had been cut and then Leek Signs pulled everything else together. I was so nervous on the day that they came to fit the sign, bit it went up with no problem, and we have had a frosted film added, to create a peep hole whic

  1. Tell us a bit about your business - what do you do?   I'm Karen Douglas, a digital illustrator and newbie surface designer; my business is Comfy Marmalade and I design colourful, retro-inspired and eco-friendly cards, prints, calendars and stickers. I launched CM in late 2018 following a somewhat chequered career - theatrical stage manager, theatre press & marketing officer and town clerk! I've always been a creative person but I'd never considered digital illustration until a kind and generous friend gave me a crash course in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and lent me her old laptop to practice on. An opportunity arose for a much-needed career break which I jumped at; I used the time to hone my craft, develop a clutch of potentially good ideas and cobble together a basic business plan, and launched Comfy Marmalade with a ton of enthusiasm but no expectations of success. So far, so good! 2. What is your typical work day like and where do you do your design work? I

Yippee my first Print Peeps interview - so excited to introduce you to Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer Sarah Grateley and her work.  Sarah has very kindly agreed to answer my questions about her business as a freelancer - so if you want to find out more or your interested in getting into this type of work then check out her answers below. Hi Sarah, tell us about your business, what do you do and why did you start up?  I am a freelance illustrator/surface pattern designer and mural artist (and Mum to two lovely peeps!! Phew!). Based in Stafford, I studied Visual Communication at the UCE in Birmingham, specialising in my final year in Illustration and graduating in 1998. Since then I have been part time designing/illustrating for various commissions and studios, alongside working part time at the Shire Hall Art Gallery in Stafford. I was taught all about surface pattern and putting designs in repeat by Mary Jones Design Studio based in Stafford where I worked in house for many y