2018 – the year I found my stride as a freelancer

2018 is almost over – I’m writing this at 4pm on New Year’s Eve (nothing like leaving it til the last minute!) Since I started full-time self-employment in 2015, I’ve written a ‘year in review’ blog, mostly for my own amusement but also for anyone else out there who’s curious about the freelance life. It’s also a good opportunity to set intentions for the year ahead.

This year has been full of personal and professional changes. I properly settled into my new office after moving in last Christmas, and also moved house for good measure (a process which took up the first half of the year!). There’s been marriages, hen weekends, new routines and new kitchens. I’ve had CBT for my anxiety (which I’ve written about in more detail here) and spoke to a room of 200 students about my career.

Work has been as varied as ever, and as I was hoping at the end of last year, I’ve taken on a lot more illustration work. Clients have commissioned camera mascots, circus themed birth announcements, parish maps and even a design to be iced onto a biscuit! I’ve written 20 city guides, numerous blogs and single-handedly designed three 40-page school magazines.

It’s always hard to juggle all the different aspects of creative freelancing – client work always comes first but it’s important to have some self-directed projects too. Towards the end of the year I put more focus on my illustrated merchandise, bringing out brand new products and designs (just in time for Christmas – and I mean just in time!) I also made the decision not to do any more craft fairs, which you can read about in more detail on my Facebook page here. 

Overall, I think this is the year I really found my stride as a self-employed illustrator and graphic designer (emphasis on the former these days). This has been helped immeasurably by having my own office space, and the invaluable support and friendship of my office wives Louise Dillon of Armadillo Social and Sarah Sarkies of Mulberry Web Design – love you ladies!

Have a fabulous New Year’s Eve whatever you’re up to – I’ll be raising a toast to 2018 and looking forward to whatever 2019 has in store!