Looking Back with BBC Bitesize

This blog post is for young people who might be considering a future in the creative sector, as well as anyone who might be interested in my creative journey! 

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I recently joined BBC Tees and Bitesize on the road to deliver careers sessions to secondary school audiences in Teesside. The panel had a ‘Question Time’ style setup featuring a panel of three professionals, including myself. As preparation for this, I took part in an email interview with BBC Bitesize, which I’m including a transcript of below. 

How would you describe your role, and which organisations do you work with?

I am a self-employed graphic artist. I work with lots of different types of organisations, such as entertainment venues, councils, museums, universities and people who have their own business.

What do you actually do? And what does a typical day look like for you?

I mainly create digital drawings of buildings, or landscapes, as well as other services such as branding and graphic design. The working day starts with me having a cup of tea and checking my to-do-list, answering any emails I need to reply to, doing admin and then working on whatever illustration or design project I need to work on. I spend a lot of time travelling to meetings or to take photos for reference for my drawings, too. 

What did you want to do when you were at school? Did things turn out as anticipated?

Like a lot of kids, I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career for most of school, which made me feel stressed and confused. Other classmates just seemed to know what they wanted to do. I enjoyed arty subjects, history and literature the most, but these seemed like hobbies for a long time and I couldn’t imagine them turning out to be a career. It was only when I went to an open day at The Northern School of Art, and realised how many different careers there were in the arts, that I decided I wanted to study graphic design. I was right at the end of school before I decided what I wanted to do. 

What GCSEs did you do and how did they help you in your current role?

Alongside all the compulsory GCSEs, I studied History, Art and Graphics. These have all helped me in my current role. It meant I could explore the arts and have a lot of fun with the subject as well as spend more time in a class with people that also loved art. I did really well in all my GCSEs. A common misconception is that artistic people aren’t very academic. I’ve never found this to be the case! 

Did you go to further education?

I went to The Northern School of Art for college, and then university to, study graphic design, for which I received a First-Class Honors Degree. There was only one classmate out of my year at school that I recognised, so it felt like a big step at the time to be around all these new personalities. But it was one of the best decisions I ever made, and it shaped my future.

Describe your personality and how that helps you do what you do.

In school, I was painfully shy and very introverted, which is hard to imagine now! I became more confident in my teens, which I think was due to my education, and being taught how to talk about my work, and generally being around like-minded people. I enjoy problem-solving and learning new things, which is a big part of creative jobs that involve receiving a brief from a client. 

What are your key skills/attributes that make you good at your job?

I think the main skill for my job is just having the ability to create successful illustrations and brands, but a big part of it is being able to communicate your ideas and be confident, as well as being professional and organised. Being able to take criticism is essential, too.

What do you love/what’s the best thing about your job?!

I love the freedom of my schedule and being able to draw for a living. It’s so fun and full of surprises.

Have there been any times in your life or career that you’ve faced setbacks or challenges, and how have you overcome this?

The year before last I unexpectedly got ill and needed emergency surgery. The whole experience lasted two months, which meant I couldn’t work and had to delay the projects I had on. Sometimes awful things happen that you can’t control, but what you can control is how you respond to them. Luckily I managed to keep on top of my work and my clients were understanding because I was honest with them. 

Looking back, what piece of advice would you give to yourself if you were back at school?

I feel like I was more stressed at school about GCSEs and the future than I am now while running my own business, having my own home, and many more responsibilities. I wish I could let my younger self know that I needn't have been so worried. Of course, It's important to take your studies seriously, but finding a balance between work and play is really important. Also, find the subjects you love most and pursue them with all your heart. You spend most of your life working, and if you find something you can do for a living and love doing it, it won't feel like work.