For over a year, I wanted to start illustration but convinced myself I couldn’t because I was already pursuing another creative niche; I was totally convinced everyone would laugh at me and roll their eyes thinking “here she goes again, another outlet”. I mean, I was just about to throw away a pretty large Instagram account to start again at zero, which at the time I thought was nuts, but now I see it was the best thing I could have done for myself.

It took me a lot of thought, discussions with friends and some soul-searching to realise how silly I was being. As creatives, we should be able to explore as many outlets as we want. So I bought myself an iPad Pro and a stylus and I was quickly consumed by my new-found love for illustration. I became obsessed, I think I posted three illustrations to no one on my first day! I’ve never felt more connected or more ‘myself’ through this style and it turns out that starting from zero is actually pretty liberating, I could show every side of who I am and if no one joined the journey, so what?! I had nothing to lose.

But I was lucky enough to find an amazing community of strong, creative people who send me amazing messages and cheer me on every step of the way. I feel like I’ve made some real friends here! And after finding something I connected with on a deeply passionate level (I now know what that feels like), everything else felt super easy. People seemed to resonate with my messages and art and only a couple of weeks into illustration, I was receiving daily messages from people asking where they could buy my art. I never set out to sell my art, I just wanted an outlet to express myself, and so I had no idea how to make a shop or sell art, on what paper and how do I even package artwork?! It was a whirlwind and the most fun all at once. It's been one of the most exciting times of my life to create my artwork but to also have others enjoy it and want it in their homes. Every single day is a 'pinch me' moment.

I have been lucky enough to grow my online community to over 200K followers in the first year, which allowed me to open my shop right here. I made the kinda money that allows you to work for yourself in just 6 months. I sent out over 1000 orders in my first year to 49 different countries and 43 US states. I've worked with some amazing brands including UNICEF, I've got licensing deals with publishers. I've illustrated whole books for authors. I've been featured in magazines and I've even got my own book deal lined up! Life has been pretty crazy since I picked up that stylus, and I feel like this is just the beginning.

I really hope whilst reading this, one of you has thought about that thing that makes you passionate and you've felt inspired to think “fuck it” and just jump into their goals, head first! And this doesn't just apply to creative people, I hope whatever you're passionate about, you manage to make it into your living. Or maybe you don't know what makes you passionate yet, then I hope it's given you the drive to try more outlets to find your thing. It's out there, I promise! I had to kiss a few frogs first (we all do, not many stick the landing the first time). And if that’s you, I’d love to hear from you through my socials. Come and say hi and let me know you've been here so we can talk all things passion projects together!

Cheers, Steph x

PS. If you're still reading this, good job! I told you I was a chatterbox!