Meet Simone, Designer and Illustrator
Welcome to my quiet corner of the internet, where stories are drawn by hand and nature guides the way.
Where it all began
Growing up in a small village, my days were filled with outdoor adventures, climbing trees, gathering wildflowers, and dreaming of flower fairies. I was always creating: crafting daisy chain crowns, sketching blooms in the margins of notebooks, and imagining a life like the Edwardian Lady, surrounded by nature and quiet beauty. From the very start, art and nature were deeply intertwined in my world.
That thread continued through my life, leading me to study visual communication and graphic design at university. I spent years working in creative agencies across five major cities, gaining experience and perspective, but it wasn’t until I returned to my home village to raise my twin daughters that everything truly aligned.
Ellie and Liv (named after my daughters) was born from a desire to balance family life with a meaningful, creative practice. With over 20 years of experience in art and design, I’ve come home. Not just to a place, but to what I love most: paper, storytelling, illustration, and design that connects deeply with others.
My world as a visual storyteller
Design has always been part of my life, but I truly rekindled my passion for drawing through illustrating couples’ wedding stationery. I discovered a world where stories could be told through symbolism and meaning, to create work with depth and natural connection.
Over the years, I’ve honed my skills to combine my logical thinking as a graphic designer with the storytelling power of an illustrator. Whether I’m creating a brand identity, a surface pattern, or a one-off illustration, my work always begins with quiet thoughts and words, no matter how vague, before my pencil meets paper.
Ink and paper are my cherished companions, but it’s the gathering of small, special details that excites me most. I’m a curator at heart, drawn to the meaningful and the mindful. I love creating visuals that feel grounded, intentional, and rich with your stories.
My love of botanicals grew from a period of burnout, a time that taught me the healing power of nature and the importance of honouring our mental wellbeing. I learned that stepping outside and connecting with the natural world could calm the nervous system and quiet the mind. Drawing botanicals became a form of therapy for me: a sanctuary where time slows and I can breathe again. Through capturing the smallest of natural details and the art of Floriography, I hope to offer that same sense of calm and solace to others.
Whether you’re looking for a piece that speaks to your story, a design that honours your values, or a mindful way to bring more beauty into your life, I’m so glad you’re here.
Crafted by Hand, Rooted in Meaning
My work always begins by hand. Whether it’s a logo, illustration, or surface pattern, everything starts with a pencil or a fine-line pen. I choose to build details slowly, using a variety of techniques tailored to the needs of each project. In my illustrations, I like to preserve the simplicity and elegance of fine line botanical drawings, sometimes adding soft watercolour washes for depth and softness. For branding and surface pattern designs that require clean scalability, I refine my hand-drawn elements digitally, creating versatile vectors that retain the warmth of the original sketch without losing the detail.
Inspired by classical botanical drawings and traditional woodcuts, my style is soft, timeless, and thoughtful. I draw on symbolism, floriography, and historical detail to bring quiet meaning to each composition.
In a fast-paced digital world, I choose a slower, more mindful approach, one that invites reflection and creates lasting, human-centred design.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
Lao Tzu
Me in a nutshell
My idea of pure happiness is a crisp autumn day, a crunchy woodland walk among gold and red leaves with my brilliant husband and twin daughters (for whom Ellie & Liv is named).
I’m a homebody and introvert by heart, and I love to spend time with close family and friends. Nothing makes me happier than pottering about, taking the day slowly with good food and my favourite people.
A few of my favourite things
• Getting outdoors – nothing clears the mind and refreshes your soul like the fresh air. Rain or shine I will always grab a daily walk.
• Stately homes – the properties, the gardens, the history. I can not get enough, most weekends you will find me at a National Trust property.
• My cats – I work from my home studio so my trusty furry colleagues keep me company. Precious, our tabby, lives by her name, a true diva. Then Willow our black and white ball of mischief creates chaos wherever he goes!
• Dark chocolate – I swear I’m 70% made of chocolate, my daily treat is one square after my lunch.
• Yoga – I’ve practised for over 18 years, I may not be quite as flexible as I once was since having twins but I still love to get in a weekly practice.
• Reading – My favourite thing is to sit in the garden on a sunny day with a book. I often have two books on the go alongside my favourite magazine ‘The Simple Things’.
• Gardening – In recent years influenced by my florist friends I’ve begun to grow my own flowers. My garden is definitely more on the wild side, but the bees and butterflies adore it.
