Curious about the hands (and paintbrushes!) behind the wonderful bespoke wedding invitations and illustrated menus? Grab a brew (Yorkshire Tea please!) and prepare to take a peek behind the brand that is Splendid Swan Wedding Stationery.
Q: How did you get started in wedding stationery?
A: I started painting flowers in lockdown as a way to pass the time and ease anxiety about what was going on in the world at the time. As I painted more and more, I wondered how the flowers would look on floral wedding invitations, so I decided to try selling a few designs on Etsy. I didn’t expect them to be so popular! I began developing a range based on what clients loved most, which gradually led me to the bespoke design service and hand-painted stationery that I create now.
Q: When did you first start painting?
A: I’ve loved painting, drawing and sewing for as long as I can remember. I was the child who always had ink-stained fingers or a tin full of buttons and beads. As a child I had a folder that was filled with fashion illustrations - I watched a film showing designers sketching away fashion outfits, so I began practising in my spare time, drawing all kinds of outfits.
I trained in fashion design at University and enjoyed life drawing and still life. We worked with a variety of mediums - pencil, gouache, watercolour and digital methods.
Q: What do you love about painting with watercolours?
A: I love the way the colours blend together and the variety of colour intensity that can be achieved. If you want bold and dramatic, use the paint straight from the tube, while watering it down can create a softer, dreamy aesthetic. I love playing with different techniques and I’m still learning. Each year I look back at my work and can see how my skill has developed.
Q: What did you do before Splendid Swan?
A: My career history is intriguing. I worked as a childrenswear designer straight from university and then went to run my own fashion label in Manchester. That was a quirky alternative / streetwear brand and it got featured in the Sunday Times Style magazine along with the likes of Hello and OK magazine (which are probably no longer around…) One of my kids T-shirts also ended up on Lorraine’s catwalk show on This Morning. I consider that my greatest achievement to date!
Those were tough times and I was battling just after the recession as a graduate with no business experience, I ended up being completely burnt out and exhausted and decided to have a career change to clear my head. So I side-stepped into marketing and worked for the luxury wedding venue, Wynyard Hall, for a number of years. I learnt so much about the wedding industry here! After that I was Head of Creative for North Yorkshire artist Lucy Pittaway, where I honed my skills and learnt lots about the use of colour, working with shadows, photography, editing and product design too. When I had my son, I decided to take the plunge and set up my business as it was more flexible around the medical appointments he required.
Q: What do you love most about being a business owner?
A: No two days are the same! I like the variety within each day, the variety of projects and variety of clients - it never gets dull. One day I will be working on a soft, serene coastal wedding and the next a vibrant tropical destination wedding.
I like the flexibility of designing my own day. Instead of the strict 9-5 at a desk, I can work in the morning, take an exercise class in the afternoon and then work again at night. The whole time I was working corporate jobs, I struggled with severe back pain. I listen to my body now and can do a yoga video or go for a walk any time I need to relieve a bit of tension.
I love networking with other business owners and sharing experiences. I’m in some fab business support groups including the Visibility Society by Worsley Creative and the Northern Lass Lounge, and I also attend Etch in Stockton art gallery.
Obviously I love my clients, I adore that I get to be part of their special day and with the level of personalisation and bespoke detail I offer, I get to create something meaningful that tells their story and is unique to them.
Q: What was your favourite project to date?
A: Bespoke stationery is my favourite thing to work on, and I loved creating this escort card wall for Lauren and Laurie’s wedding in Lake Como. It was something different - a new challenge. I created cute shell shaped escort cards with bright pink tassels and designed the printed back board to hang them from, which featured illustrations representing the couple’s travels together. It was a board framed by their memories and turned out to be a striking statement piece.
Q: Where is your favourite place you’ve travelled?
A: It’s a toss up between Marrakech - I loved the culture, architecture and design (and of course the cuisine) or Hersonissos in Crete. I loved the vibe and the locals were so friendly and adored my son. We hired a car and went to an aquarium and the old town and that holiday holds fond memories for me.
Q: Who is your favourite artist or designer?
A: I love Elsa Schiaparelli’s work - she was an Italian fashion designer known for her avant-garde haute couture and work with Salvador Dali in the 1930s and 40s.
Q: How do you unwind or look after your wellbeing?
A: Sometimes I look back and feel I spent most of my 20s running around like a headless chicken, with little self awareness of how stress was impacting my health. Maintaining a healthy mind and body is important to me now. When I’m not painting I love cycling around the North East or North Yorkshire or rolling out my yoga mat. I also like upcycling furniture and in recent years have discovered the beauty of the garden - whether that’s growing my own veg or simple hanging baskets, I love developing my outdoor space.
Q: What tips would you give couples looking for hand-painted stationery?
A: Start early - as soon as you’ve booked your venue you can start on your invitation design, it’s never too soon to start. Hand-painted stationery should feel like you - whether that’s soft and romantic or bold and playful. And trust the process - hand-painted elements take time, but the end result is always worth it.