Lauren Radley
website | instagram | facebook | email
Lauren is an illustrator and designer. She graduated from Kingston University London in 2009 with a degree in Illustration, and has since worked as a freelance illustrator for magazines and companies such as the BBC, The Telegraph, and The National Trust, as well as launching her own brand and product range in 2014, creating prints, greetings cards and homewares. Laurens work is inspired by passion for storytelling through playful, colourful imagery, and her love of making people smile through gorgeous, cute, and contemporary illustrations.
“Your character and who you are will shine through in whatever you create, and people will be drawn to you for that uniqueness."
Tell us about your path to setting up your business and what motivated you?
I was making my own greeting cards and selling them at school craft fairs from being a little kid. Drawing, illustration, making an creating is all I have ever done and all I have ever wanted to do.
How do you work and what is a typical day like for you?
Every day is different. Sometimes I will be working on a commission, and if there is a tight deadline that will take priority, some days are all about admin, others I might be packing up stock and doing deliveries or posting orders, and then some days I will work on new designs. I love that I get to mix things up throughout the week - everyday is different which is what makes my job so fun!
What are the best parts about your business?
From the freelance illustration side, I love the buzz of getting a new brief from an exciting client, and from the business side, I love being able to create my own illustrations, not working to a brief, and just because I have an idea and feel like drawing it! And for then for someone to want to buy them afterwards is amazing; I still feel so grateful for every single customer who buys from me.
What has been your greatest struggle as a business owner so far?
Work life balance has always been a bit of a struggle for me. When you work for yourself, it’s very hard to switch off from ‘work mode’ to just be able to relax and take some time for yourself doing something non work related; especially if you are passionate about what you do!
What has been your biggest a-ha moment so far?
Realising that it’s all about efficiency! Since having my daughter, I no longer have the luxury of twelve hour studio days (half of which often involved a whole lot of procrastination in the form of coffee drinking, lunch breaks, and chats), so I am now managing my time in a new, more efficient way, and am getting just as much done - who knew!
Do you have any advice for other small business owners?
Be yourself, stay original, and true to your own style. It’s the best advice possible. Your character and who you are will shine through in whatever you create, and people will be drawn to you for that uniqueness.
What currently inspires you?
A change of scenery. Whether that is travelling, visiting somewhere new, or just a walk. I love walking through the woods close to where I live. I always get the best ideas in those woods!
