Meet the Maker

My focus is on producing lovely Floral Lettering and Modern Calligraphy. I create custom commissioned work and sell art prints. I live in Essex and I have just launched this business recently.

I’ve been a “secret artist” for most of my life.

When I was little I drew all the time – mainly dresses, hairstyles, flowers and houses. I’ve given my Mum handmade Mother’s Day and birthday cards every year for the past 30+ years, mainly decorated with flowers and swirls.

I grew up and became an accountant and my art got buried beneath a pile of ‘adult responsibility’.

About my art, whether it is a word or a picture that I have created, my audience delights in the fact that an ordinary item has been created using an intricate pattern. They find something different in the details when they look at it and appreciate the effort that has gone into the creation. If it is a word, especially a motivational one, they may resonate with the meaning and this may elicit an emotional response. At the basic level, my art appeals to those who like lovely things like I do. I'm basically creating artwork that I love and am obsessed with. I'm trying to push myself to create even more complex designs but at first glance they look simple.

Though I have recently launched Sweet Word Flora, I had been trying to run a side hustle for a few years but I admit I got too distracted with trying to do too many things (website design, logos and branding, fashion illustration, abstract painting - over the pandemic lock down I painted over 300 hundred paintings…!). However, after a lot of mindset work and enhancing my confidence I decided to focus on just one thing: where I started the journey - drawing florals, writing in a Calligraphy style and lettering.

In terms of materials, I use good quality archival inks and papers to ensure that my art, if looked after properly, will last. I love pens, whether it’s fountain pens or fineliners and the intricate work I produce is primarily achieved through using fineliners. I use a pointed pen and ink and fountain pens for my modern calligraphy style. I mainly create black and white art but do add pops of colour or metallic highlights occasionally. I am trying to be more environmentally conscious, for my prints I have a local printing studio who have been enhancing their sustainability practices for some time. I have also ordered a printer of my own so I can just print on demand in order to be more sustainable and also to have control over my artistic production process.

For my creative process, I practice drawing my floral pattern a lot! I create abstract drawings. It has taken many, many years for me to develop my personal style that I believe is unique to me. I usually draw a very light pencil sketch before adding ink, just to get the layout correct as well.

I am usually an impatient person but when it comes to my art, to create such detailed work, I have to be more patient. I think this is great for my wellbeing!