[instagram-feed]

Hello there!

My name is Java, I currently live in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire in a small higgledy piggledy terraced house with my partner Jon, our two little boys and a cat Nutmeg. Previous to this I grew up between London, Scotland, the South of France and Spain, finally ending up in Manchester, UK for fifteen years. All of these glorious places, in their own way, inform my work and aesthetic.

I originally trained as an actor, later working as a theatre agent until having children. Becoming a mother awakened a need within me to explore my creativity in a different way. I had spent my childhood drawing, writing and reading, and after a phase in my twenties where I abandoned it all for the sake of hosting endless dinner parties.

I have now returned to my original loves, but with the added inspiration of food, kitchen life and home. I come from a line of creatives on both sides, so this feels like a natural progression.

I now work as an illustrator, writer, podcast, stylist and story teller, creating prints and greeting cards as well as illustrated branding for small businesses. All added to styling foods events and writing a book about our kitchen rituals.

I aim to stay faithful to a romantic, rustic aesthetic, whilst also prioritising the environment and sustainability.

A combination of my own journey and those of other female creatives inspired me to start the podcast On the Irregular, where I talk to women about their own unique paths to where they find themselves in their chosen craft(s).

It has also been the foundations for creating the workshop Say It Out Loud an online course to help support women unlock creative projects and create a tangible plan for moving forward with their ideas.

I hope you enjoy taking a look around, thanks for visiting,

Java x