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The Artist Behind The Artwork
The Story Behind My WORK
Where Did The Idea Come From?
On 3rd June, 2024, I sat in my third-year university bedroom, having just completed my art degree, and realised my three years at Loughborough University had come to an end. I felt a mix of emotions - sadness, happiness, and pride, but ultimately, I wanted a way to remember my time there. So, I decided to create a drawing for my bedroom: Loughborough Landmarks.
I posted a TikTok video showcasing the illustration and casually mentioned that I was selling prints, despite having absolutely no idea how to do so. To my surprise, within just two days, I had received ten orders.
I headed to my local print shop, Max Spielmann, where I printed each order for around £2 and posted them for £1.50. Selling them for £5–£10, I had no real understanding of profit margins, I was just excited that people wanted my artwork!
My first five orders came from Loughborough students, so I personally hand-delivered them to ensure they arrived safely.
Less than a month later, I moved out of Loughborough and quickly realized I couldn't keep making trips to the print shop to fulfill orders. What was once a five-minute walk to Max Spielmann had turned into a 25-minute drive into Northampton town, making it impractical. On top of that, I had just started a full-time job, so the business naturally took a backseat.
In July, I bought my first printer, an Epson 2780. It became my best friend for a few months, but I still had to rely on a print shop for A3 orders. So, a few months later, I upgraded to an Epson 15000, allowing me to print A3 sizes from home.
Why Universities?
The idea of my business expanding into university buildings was never part of the plan, it just sort of happened.
During my time studying Fine Art at university, I often struggled to create the work I truly wanted to make. The course encouraged a particular creative direction that didn’t quite align with me. I wanted to paint realistic flowers, people, and objects, but the emphasis on ‘context’, a major part of the course, made that difficult.
I always told myself that once university was over, I’d create whatever I wanted. And if people wanted to buy it? Even better!
But for now, I am really enjoying drawing Universities and I hope to one-day expand into all sorts of things!