Meet Your Illustrator! My creative journey to becoming a full time artist.

Photo by That Ginger Media Ltd

Hello! I'm Leela. This blog post was supposed to be a short introduction, but it ended up being a piece of writing that just needed to come out. This is the story of my creative journey from the 15 year old girl who wrote in her school yearbook that she wanted to be a professional illustrator, to the woman who quit her 9-5 job at age 40 with no business and no clients, to finally fulfil that dream.

A Childhood love of art which fizzled out

One of my biggest childhood influences was The Animals of Farthing Wood, which was a fairly dark theme of the life and death struggles faced by woodland animals!

I've always loved to draw, ever since I could hold a pencil. I scribbled my way through countless paper pads as a child, and continued until I suddenly fell out of love for it during my first illustration degree.

I studied Art & Design at college, and explored making comic book art. I copied some pieces of comic book art like this Rollergirl art, to learn how to paint in stark black and white with Indian ink, then I applied it to my own art, like my lizard pieces.

Teachers influence us more than they know. There are some wonderful, incredible teachers out there who inspire and encourage us, and there are some that aren't. Both kinds can alter the course of a young life. Sadly, after an enthusiastic start to my illustration degree, a hugely negative experience with the second year course leader meant that I ended up leaving and switching to another degree after my second year.

I absolutely loved the first year of my illustration degree. My favourite project was where we had to illustrate a saying. Apparently, there's a saying in Australia about 'bird walking weather' - weather so bad even the birds are walking. I used the opportunity to sketch lots of birds!

Fun fact! I have a degree in Photography. Not that you'd know! Another funny thing - take a degree in something you aren't truly passionate about and it'll be an expensive three years of your life with not much to show for it. My favourite part of studying photography was playing around in the darkroom, developing black and white photographs. I still remember the smell of the chemicals and the comforting, red dimness of that room. The technical side interested me less - I was more interested in playing with photographic chemicals than learning how to take a good image in the first place, and so after my degree and without a darkroom to play in, my camera stayed in its bag.

My final photography project was called 'Liliput Landscapes' and was about the tiny everyday scenes we pass by without noticing.

After I graduated, I felt truly directionless, not really very good at anything in particular and with no idea what I was going to do with my life. I applied to teach English in Japan because that's what my brother did and it looked like fun. Also, I loved learning about Japanese culture, ever since I'd visited a couple of years before. I lived in Tokyo for three months and although Japan was the most incredible country and I met some truly wonderful friends, I found myself lonely and missing home, so I ended up coming home, feeling like a bit of a failure.

Office jobs and a creative opportunity

I had a couple of awful jobs selling banking products. I was terrible at selling people stuff they didn't want or need and was always being threatened with pay cuts (or with being fired!) for not hitting my sales targets. One of my managers wanted me to try selling a personal loan to someone who'd brought in their loved one's death certificate, 'to pay for the funeral' and I knew that this wasn't the industry for me.

I eventually settled into an administrative career at a university which I enjoyed, and worked with some fantastic people, but it never truly felt like 'me' either. On so many mornings I'd drive to the office and sit in the rush hour traffic and wonder 'is this all there really is to life?'.

I met my husband, Adam, and settled down and eventually I started playing with art again. I definitely now see the direct correlation between my general happiness and wellbeing and my creativity. Creating art makes me happy, but not when I'm running on an empty cup.

When Adam and I moved in together I crafted, cut paper with scalpels, and experimented with watercolours, inks and calligraphy. And I started to feel as though I'd wasted my previous university opportunities. I realised that if I had the chance to study again, I'd 100% take it, and this time I'd do the best I could.

Selling some of my very varied art and crafts at a stall! At this time I wanted to make 'everything' all at once.

Around 2016, through working at the university I discovered that at the time, the government were offering student loans to people who already had degrees, to study certain subjects at the same level, like computing. It just so happened that various 'art' based courses fell under the banner of 'computing' - like Concept Art. I was curious about the possibility of studying a part time degree alongside my full time office job. I cobbled together a portfolio of sketches, and showed them to the course tutor. He told me I wasn't good enough at drawing to be a concept artist (painful to hear, but in hindsight, I agree. Concept artists have to be incredibly skilled), but suggested I looked into studying a Master's Degree, since I already had a first degree. For some reason, studying a Master's just hadn't occurred to me. It sounded so grown up!

At the time, I'd obsessed over 'Landscape/Portrait Artist of the Year' on TV. So I thought - okay, I can do that. So with zero 'proper' painting experience, I next went to see the Fine Art course tutor.

This is where it goes a bit Goldilocks and the Three Bears, because this next tutor told me my style was too illustrative to be a 'fine artist'.

The course that was 'just right'

The third tutor I went to see was called Michael and he led the MA Future Design course. It felt like a vague name for a course, but he explained that it helped individuals develop their own creative practice in a consistently 'future facing' manner. I saw the exhibition by current graduates and there were illustrators, interior designers, product designers and architectural designers all represented. I decided to enrol, and arranged with my job to temporarily cut down my hours so that I could study the course.

Around the same time, we learned we were expecting our son, Thomas. I enrolled on the course at 6 months pregnant, and I felt so full of hope for the future at that time!

Reality check: becoming a parent for the first time was for me, like a bulldozer razing my nice little life. I almost quit the Master's course, and I would have, if it wasn't for Michael's kindness and empathy, which helped me through the first semester and handing in the first pieces of work. Once I managed that, my creative practice became a kind of therapy. Having the work to concentrate on as something for 'me' really helped, and I sketched and researched during naptimes.

I have much to thank Michael for, and I think back to my earlier experiences with various teachers, and I know that out of all of them he has had the biggest positive impact on my life.

As part of my MA I researched local fairy and folk tales and illustrated the characters from them.

The course didn't teach me 'how to draw' or 'how' to be an illustrator. What it taught me was the methods and the discipline to research for myself, to test new things, to 'play' artistically and to seek feedback and share ideas with peers . It taught me to consider things out of my comfort zone and tackle problems. I remember admitting to Michael one day 'I don't really know how to use colour, I'm a bit scared of it', and he replied (kindly, as always!), 'Well, if you're going to work as an illustrator, you kind of have to know this, so you'd better learn!'

My biggest hurdle was having too many ideas and wanting to do everything all at once. At each tutorial, I'd blurt out my latest ideas (there were many!) and Michael would patiently help me order my thoughts into practical considerations, and prioritise what to do next.

After two years of studying part time alongside my maternity leave and then back to full time employment, I graduated with a Merit. I was proud of myself, and my family were too. But although I'd had to work up a business idea as part of the course, it didn't feel like 'the one' to pursue, and I began to drift slightly again.

Opportunity in unexpected places

In 2019, a disappointment at work gave me the motivation to refocus my efforts on becoming a professional illustrator. I joined a group coaching membership for creatives, with weekly group coaching calls and an active chat group. I met so many creative friends from all around the world, some of whom I am delighted to still call good friends today. It was such an enriching experience, and I can confidently say joining this group was the moment my life goals started becoming clearer. Other than studying, this was the first time I'd networked with people with similar goals to me, at all different stages in their business journeys. Through the membership, I happened to meet a senior designer who worked for one of the biggest creative brands in the world: Crayola.

What followed felt like a truly crazy time at the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown. At the time, I'd been drawing a series of cute bugs. She saw something in my work and asked me to send some samples of my illustrations over, for her to discuss with her team. I was overjoyed just to be sending some samples and with the thought that a team of people were actually going to be discussing my work!

Then, I was asked to do some paid samples. PAID! I felt on Cloud Nine. I was creating samples for CRAYOLA and they were offering to PAY ME FOR IT!

The first project I worked on with Crayola ended up as a pack of giant colouring pages. I'd illustrated 40 pages in total plus the cover, but 18 were chosen to be part of this pack.

Now that I'm more experienced in my career, I recognise just how green I was! But I will forever be thankful to that senior designer and she remains a good friend today, for graciously guiding me through the process and giving me that opportunity. I ended up being commissioned by Crayola to create artwork for three different colouring book projects, and I remain immensely proud of what we created. These books and activity packs were on sale in the USA and Canada, and when I opened the samples they sent me via FedEx, it felt like Christmas morning as a child.

'Deep Sea Friends' was my second, much larger project with Crayola. I illustrated and designed all 96 pages plus the front cover, some of which were activity pages.

'Food Pals' was my third, and most fun project with Crayola. I loved coming up with the little foodie personalities! Although again it was originally designed as a 96-page colouring and activity book like Deep Sea Friends, it ended up being released as a 48 page colouring book.

Letting go of old beliefs

Working with Crayola gave me the confidence in my ability to realise that illustration was a serious career choice for me. I spent many, many hours in my spare time learning about how to run a successful creative business. Long after I graduated, I made use of the university's library (which was a bonus of my employment) and studied as much as I could in my spare time. This is where I really started to appreciate the research skills I'd learned from my Master's course.

Throughout much of my life, fuelled by various teachers along the way, I'd held a long standing belief that I was innately lazy, and that this was part of my character, and I'd never fulfil my potential. Completing my Master's degree alongside a full time job and a new baby, and later, completing artwork for a 96-page colouring book in the evenings after working a full day in the office, alongside juggling life with a toddler and a family, began to make me realise that maybe - just maybe - I wasn't lazy after all.

I started looking for other illustration opportunities and worked with a range of smaller clients on little projects. I designed leaflets for local elections, I illustrated maps, I illustrated greetings cards. I sent out my portfolio to children's book publishers and agents. But I never really felt like I was 'all-in' on wanting to be a children's book illustrator. I knew my style was ideal for the children's market, and I liked the idea of seeing my illustrations in children's books, but I felt half-hearted when I sent out my portfolio.

I'd had an idea for 'Kawaii Kitchen' which was going to be my own colouring book.

Nothing changes if nothing changes

A few more disappointments at work later, and in early 2024 the university I worked for sent out an offer to all staff to apply for voluntary redundancy, with a package of several month's pay as severance. I'd seen this sort of offer sent several times over the 14 years I'd worked for my employer, and I'd never before even slightly considered leaving the safety of a regular monthly salary... until now.

Maybe I was ready...

SO MUCH went through my head in the couple of weeks I mulled over whether to take the leap. I wasn't ready to be a children's illustrator, I had no regular clients and no illustration work lined up. I wasn't ready. Was I?

I had, however, had the seed of an idea growing in my mind. I'd seen live illustrators here and there over the years. Even a couple hired by my employer. An illustrator was drawing people live on an iPad at one university event, and at another, an illustrator took visual notes of our away day. Then I saw an illustrator drawing portraits at weddings, and I realised that weddings are events that consistently happen, with a potential supply of consistent clients.

I knew nothing about weddings, other than planning my own in 2012. Back then, it was mostly word of mouth and the odd wedding fair visit.

I researched demand for live wedding illustrators. There were a few that I found already, but none that specialised in weddings in my particular area. I felt there was a demand. I had a feeling I'd never had before - a voice that whispered 'you're right about this, this is going to trend, you're going to get into this at the right time to build a business'.

My gut told me yes. My head told me 'you can't do this'.

My mantra throughout the years, when making decisions for change, has been 'nothing changes if nothing changes'. I'd continue sitting in that car, driving through the dreary steets to a dreary office every day until I retired, feeling resentful over the same old office politics, day after day. Year after year.

Nothing changes if nothing changes. I repeated this over and over.

I asked myself - at the end of my life, will I regret not taking this chance?

I practised. I asked friends and family for photos of themselves that I could use. My first attempts were terrible. I persisted.

A friend knew the manager of a local business who was organising an event, and they agreed to let me try it out as a 'practice' live illustration event. I was SO nervous, but it went so well! Feedback was great, and I got some photos for my first pieces of marketing.

I confided in another friend about my anxieties over whether I should take the leap and leave my job. She said I should absolutely 100% do it. I talked it through with my husband. He was nervous, but he trusted me. I was terrified. But it felt right. I applied for the severance, and I cried when I told my manager.

My evening illustrating at the G&Tea House was my 'proof of concept' test to make sure I could actually do this! It was amazing, I loved every minute (after the initial anxiety about the whole thing!)

The Leap

My last day in full time employment was surreal. I walked out of there with a few month's worth of money but no customers and no business, and I threw myself into building it.

I joined The Wedding Business Club, and started to learn about what it takes to run a successful business in this industry.

I went to wedding fairs, I spoke to as many suppliers as I could. They were beyond kind and welcoming, I made friends and I collected advice.

I asked everybody I knew to share my new business on socials, and that's how I landed my first booking. A friend of a friend's daughter was getting married (the next month!) and had looked for an illustrator but not found one.

My first wedding was incredible! I absolutely loved the buzz and the pressure of drawing live. The feedback from guests was all so positive and I left feeling on top of the world.

Meanwhile, I applied for part time jobs. I knew that building a business would take time, and my money would run out, and I accepted a job working two and a half days a week at a local college. To be honest, I never really intended to leave, I thought that the security of a monthly salary alongside getting to live my illustration dream was enough for me.

Steadily, I increased my visibility, took more bookings, and improved my business. Amazingly, I managed to take enough bookings to leave that part time job at the end of April 2025, and I've been full time ever since. It's been a rocky first winter, but I'm almost through it. I signed up with an amazing accountant who advises me and keeps me on the right track with my business finances.

I absolutely love being a business owner. I love the business side as well as getting to create art for people. I love making people happy. The wedding industry was a completely unexpected joy - what I thought at first might be 'just' a potential source of clients turned out to be SO much more than that. I discovered a warm, creative, fast-paced, exciting and inspiring industry where suppliers cheer each other on. Each wedding is unique, wonderful, and heartfelt. I've cried during speeches, I've felt the emotion on the day, I've been truly honoured to be able to be a part of such special days.

I know I've found where I want to be, and I feel lucky that life has led me here.

So many things in life are out of our control. My heart breaks for those I know who have lost loved ones, and for those struggling through serious health challenges. And I always worry about the future. But every time I've changed something in my life, it's been because I realised that life is too short to think 'what if'. Don't get me wrong, there's so much that I still want to do. But at least I know that if life ends tomorrow, I did this. I did what I felt that I was meant to do and I made a living doing what I love.

Thank you to those of you who have supported me in my life. I am more grateful than you know.

Leela x

Want to work with me? You can email me at leela@leelaillustrates.com or head on over to my main website for more information about my live illustration services for weddings, and for corporate events. I'd love to hear from you!

Photo by Sarah Johnson Photography