On life with Bonnie: Having a dog means endless love, company and warmth. During these times, it is so helpful to get up and out into the fresh air on a dog walk - it really lifts my spirits and makes me even more grateful for the nature that we have around us. I think some people must think that I am absolutely bonkers (not that far from the truth) as the love I have for Bonnie is crazy... She makes me so happy every day. She is my best mood booster, the best cuddler and really knows when I'm upset.
On work: I have always been into art but it was quite a windy road to get here... I was a Primary School Teacher for three years after studying Psychology at Sheffield University and then doing a PGCE at UCL. I then applied to art school but I didn't get in so I quit my job to find something that was more creative, or something that allowed me to spend time outside of work on art. I slipped into Fashion PR purely by accident for a year - a fun year, but really not for me. Before sliding back into teaching, I decided to refocus on my art and scarily decided to do teaching part time so that I could spend time on my art. Then the rest is history! Lockdown actually came at a good time and enabled me to live and breathe my art. Although lockdown came with great difficulties, such as my father being in ICU with coronavirus, I was very grateful for this time to put everything into my art with zero distractions. Bonnie was also born on 1st April 2020, a day after my father came back from hospital, which really lifted my family's spirits. A litter of cockapoo puppies from our beloved Winnie was like a gift from above!
On career plan B: Yes, I definitely toyed with the idea of other professions but nothing fulfilled me and made me feel whole.
On her daily routine: Now that I’m not a teacher, many of my friends ask me what a typical day is for me. So here we go... (P.S. this is an example of a totally productive day, there’s also lots of procrastinating in slippers and dog walks)...
- Wrapping up orders
- Updating stock on website
- Answering DMs
- Post office trips (I’ve only just discovered drop & go like the true dinosaur I am)
- Reordering supplies like paint, canvas’ and postage bits
- Planning new collections
- Getting new content for Instagram/website
- Answering emails which consist of commissions, brand collaborations, general enquiries, magazine features etc
- Attempting to keep my studio and house tidy
- Painting commissions
- Sourcing vases
- Styling vases
- Taking 474774822 photos of finished artwork and vases
- Trying to understand tax and important stuff like that
- Working with a graphic designer to sort out my brand identity
- Researching new ideas 💡
- Connecting and chatting with other artists
- A whole lot of talking to my dog as if she’s my coworker
Bonnie is there for everything. She lays right next to me on my studio floor. One of my goals is to get her to start fetching my paint brushes for me. She slots into my life perfectly and comes everywhere with me!
“she had stepped in my palette and smudged it all over her and my bedroom floor!”
Favourite Bonnie ‘tail’: She was the most firey puppy in the litter! She used to escape their pen every day and lead the others astray. I think we moved and built upon the pen multiple times but nothing got in her way of being with her favourite humans.
Once she was asleep right next to me whilst I was painting. I went to the toilet, came back and she had stepped in my palette and smudged it all over her and my bedroom floor! The pictures are funny but in reality I had paint on a 4 week old puppy! I was terrified that it would harm her but no harm seems to have been done.
Learnt in lockdown: To be kind to one another. Check in on your friends. Get outside in the fresh air. Have creative outlets. Get an animal!
One thing people should know about me: That I am a crazy animal girl with a big heart!
