I've been hiding my marketing and design projects from you

Can I tell you a secret? 

It's actually my worst-kept secret, and you probably know already... I don't just illustrate picture books. 

For the last five years, I've also been working in marketing and design, first as an employee and then for myself. 

Five years ago, I fell in love with copywriting and design through a really unusual role in the aerospace industry (but that's a story for another time), I started e.g. Creative Solutions to contract to businesses who needed an extra pair of hands with their marketing. I offered illustration and book design on the side, just in case I couldn't pay my bills with marketing alone. Within a month or two, I was working on my first proper picture book project, and things really took off from there! 

A couple of years ago, most of my income came from picture books, and my heart was so happy, but my bank account was less so... 

Something I really love about working on books, especially with self-publishing authors, is that I get to build a relationship with my clients over the course of a few months. But then the project ends, and it’s all over. Until the next book that is. 

Anyway, back in 2024, I decided pivot back to offering more marketing and graphic design services. Honestly, it felt like a little bit of a “failure” in some ways, the picture book industry is tough, but it was the best choice! 

I still get to work on fun, creative projects, and a lot of my clients work with me on a monthly basis, so I’ve gotten to build relationships with them and get to know them and their business’s needs. 

I don’t have much lined up in the way of picture books this year (but I’m still open to them!), but I do have a calendar filled with amazing projects for awesome clients and I’m so proud of that. 

If you have a creative project that you’d like a hand with, let me know - I’d love to help!

Here's a little snap took recently of The Botanist gin for a digital marketing campaign at 1851 Social Bar.