My journey

Qualified as a Graphic Designer in 2000. After work experience at Saatchi & Saatchi I developed a thirst for advertising and design briefs with strong concepts.

2001 started working as a designer, artworker, creative and art director in design and advertising agencies around East Anglia working on a number of household brands including Green King, Powters Sausages, Nomad Travel, Petlife and NHS. Won awards and filmed my first cinema commercial for Anglia Ruskin University with voice over by Scott Mills and Lisa Faulkener.

By 2005 I was frequently being asked to do small projects for friends and family which led to more and more work and so I set up my first business Kabra Creative in 2007. As well as helping local start-ups I also got the opportunity to work on a number of high profile brands such as Shell, CII, EEDA, Hotel Chocolat, NFU, Bourne Hall, Munton and London Olympics.

I got married in 2008 the year of the credit crunch and decided to take a job opportunity with Thompson & Morgans marketing department as senior designer and photographer. This brought exciting opportunities to work with Alan Titchmarsh, This Morning, Chelsea Flower Show and art direct some beautiful photoshoots with the now Mr Plant Geek, Michael Perry. Time spent working here sparked an new interest in horticulture and I totally fell in love with plants!

Priorities changed in 2013 when I finally became a mama. After a long journey of IVF I had twin girls made possible by ARGC London and lots of immunotherapy. Both twins were premature, one twin thrived but the other twin struggled with downs syndrome health complications. After 4 months travelling to different hospitals to access groundbreaking treatment she didn’t leave Great Ormond Street Hospital and I was left heartbroken.

1 year later in 2015 after round 6 of IVF a healthy and energetic girl came along but motherhood trauma coupled with hypothyroidism problems had taken its toll on my mental and physical health so much that I descended into a darkness that required a long restorative break from the energy required to produce creative design.

Researching self-care and recovery techniques became my full-time job but from this journey the boutique design studio PETITGRAIN DESIGN STUDIO was born in 2020. Not long after that I also launched my wellbeing art print company PETITGRAIN PRINTS to help others decorate their homes with useful mindful mantras to help retrain the brain to create more positive neural pathways.

Aside from loving all things French, Petitgrain is essential oil formally distilled from the small fruits of the bitter orange tree. It can be used as a powerful healing tool as its magical aroma balances emotions, enhances mental clarity and induces positive thinking. Petitgrain is French for 'little grain' - every big business starts small and that includes your small business or grain of an idea! Grains and seeds sustain us giving us energy, growth and strength - all qualities necessary for you to grow a blossoming brand. Bursting with positivity Petitgrain's citrus aroma boosts feelings of joy and bravery when facing a challenge as well as promoting feelings of hope and calm. The exact emotions I want you to feel when producing your company visuals.


WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE PETITGRAIN?

As I began to think about a niche for my boutique studio I decided that I wanted to share my design skills with small businesses who care about people's wellbeing and the planets sustainability. It is also my mission to help build your brand with minimal stress and maximum relaxation as possible. With my 20 years experience I can help you take your business to the next level without the big agency price tag.


WHY PETITGRAIN PRINTS?

The idea for Petitgrain Prints as a sister brand to Petitgrain Design started its journey with a very childlike “YOU WILL GET BETTER” drawing I quickly sketched to look at when recovering from PTSD. Everyday life is so hectic and stressful everyone needs a poster to act like a voice that is cheering you on.

Simple and effective strategies for keeping well are often forgotten when the mind is busy with an endless 'to do' list. If you see a mantra on a wall in your home every day the more you will repeat it and the more power it will have over your thought process.

Why Petitgrain?