What piece are you most proud of selling, and what story does it tell?

I remember selling one of my peacock prints to a lovely man at a local art market. He was looking for something special for his sons who had just moved into his own home. He saw the peacock and loved it. He walked around the market and came back for it. I was overjoyed at how he was pulled back to it among so many beautiful pieces and it was the first print I sold to someone outside of my friends and family group.

Wanna know something weird?

I never intended to start a business.

All I wanted was something for myself after having a baby - something creative that was just about me in a life where my existence entirely revolved around a tiny person.

I had wanted a baby for about a decade but it wasn't the right time. Truth be told I thought she'd fill a void. Instead she showed me I had work to do on myself and that included attending to my creative needs.

Printmaking gives me an enormous sense of self, the world and how I express my feelings. The carving process helps me focus on the moment instead of stressing about the long list of jobs that never seems to get shorter and the inking brings much loved colour into the day.

Creating artwork, I get to decide on my own perspective and show how I see things or want things to be. It's a form of communication where I don't have to talk and I can speak to people's emotions. I connect with people who either see the world like me or want to. It's pretty amazing really.

If you want to explore this incredible process (as well as others) and see what it can do for you, check out the workshops that I’m offering this year by reading more.

Since visiting the Ouseburn Open Studios in 2017, I knew that was where I emanated a studio. Since then, I’ve visited the open studios and scoured every inch of the Ouseburn Valley to see which studios would suit me. As desperate as I was to get a studio, I knew it needed to be the right one.

In Spring 2023, I attended yet another open studios event and found myself in B Box Studios. It was such an inviting space filled with friendly creatives and (it was warm - something my garden studio rarely was).

Straight after that, I contacted The Biscuit Factory Foundation and put my name on the waiting list knowing full well that I couldn’t afford it yet but that studios don’t come up very often.

Six months later, I got an email saying that there were 3 spaces coming up for rent so I went to view them. I cannot express how exciting this was. It was definitely a pinch me moment that made me feel like I was ‘levelling up’ as my coach calls it.

Whether you do Valentine’s Day (14th Feb), Valentine’s Day (13th Feb) or just want to make something nice for a loved one, these three makes are super easy, fun and pretty cost effective to make.

The makes I’m going to share with you are:

• Handprinted cards

• Handprinted totes

• Decoupage & drypoint gift/keepsake boxes

I managed to make all of these in one afternoon and had a lush time making them all.

Valentine’s Day can be another one of those times for needlessly spending money on tat, chocolate and things that nobody wants or needs. My husband and I refuse to go out on 14th February because meals cost at least twice as much and are often naff. We’d rather cuddle up with a film and a takeaway.

A piece of art that you have created is so personal so it will mean so much more than anything else you could give them.