Tenant Profile: Orange Pippin Illustration
This month we’re putting a spotlight on Helen of Orange Pippin Illustration for our tenant of the month profile. As usual we asked Helen a series of questions about her business, and why she does what she does, and she has been kind enough to share her answers, along with some beautiful examples of her illustrations. I hope you enjoy reading Helen’s interview, and finding out a bit more about what she does. I love that - as it’s turned out - listening to the dreamers has proved to work out well for Helen - and we love having her business based at Harland Works (although I am thinking now that we are in need of a map …!).
Q How would you describe what you do?
I am an illustrator and designer. I work on some really exciting client projects but also sell my own designs as illustrations and as homeware collections.
Q Why did you create your business?
After graduating with a degree in Fine Art at University, I was working in a marketing agency but spent all my free time drawing and gradually more and more people were asking if I would do drawings for them for cards or gifts for people and it just sort of snowballed from there. I was able to leave my job and begin the business full time once my client base had built up and haven’t looked back since!
Q Where does your ‘Orange Pippin Illustration’ name come from?
My surname is Cox and a Cox’s apple is actually called a Cox’s Orange Pippin so it felt like the perfect name!
Q What do you think are some of the defining productions?
Of all of my work, the maps are quickly becoming my favourite to create. I illustrate custom maps for both commercial and private clients but also offer a range of maps that can be bought as prints. You can even customise them as well, meaning you can order a map of Sheffield with your house or special place added on. I’ve had some amazing enquiries through this and ended up creating really wonderfully bespoke maps that are full of quirky, fun details.
Q What do you love about running a small business?
The flexibility of being your own boss is really handy but actually I really love the satisfaction you get from seeing a piece of work that you have created out in the world. It feels amazing to know that you have done this yourself and seeing commissions or products from the homeware collections selling and in people’s homes is an incredible feeling after working so hard. You never know how a new design or a new illustration will be received and every time it is such a fantastic feeling to see the world loving something you’ve put your heart into.
Q What do you like least?
Admin. Without a doubt. Admin and accounts are the least favourite thing of being a small business.
Q Any tips for anyone thinking of setting up on their own?
Do it. I had a very supportive family and group of friends who were really encouraging about setting up on my own but there were the sceptics that I would meet who would suck their teeth at the risks or even other creatives and small businesses who said it was too big of a step to quit my day job. I’m so pleased I listened to the dreamers of the world and went for it! So I would advise that people just go for it… although be prepared to put in a lot of work too!
Q What would you say to anyone else running/setting up a small independent business thinking about getting a unit at Harland Works? What works (or not!) for you being here?
It felt like starting a new chapter when I began at Harland works. I loved my previous space as well but outgrew it (quite literally I took up so much space with boxes and boxes of work) and so now I feel like I can really expand and stretch out. The community is so welcoming and exciting to be a part of. I think that where you work has a big impact on how seriously you take yourself and your job so getting a unit here has made me really push to take the business to the next steps (plus Ozmens over the road means delicious snacks any time of the day!).
Q What's your favourite social media platform and how do you feel it works best for you in building a relationship and community with your customers?
Instagram is how my business started, I was just posting photos of my evening sketches and gradually people started contacting me through it. It was also really helpful to get feedback from people about what they liked or didn’t like and helped me grow as an artist. Social media can be a bit toxic at times and it’s important to remember everyone’s had a different journey and success can look very different from one Instagram account to another but I’ve also found it incredible at reaching out to other small businesses and being able to talk to my customers directly. Sometimes it feels like I know people I’ve never even met just by the wonderful supportive messages they send.
Q How can people find out more about you and what you do?
Via my website www.orange-pippin.co.uk and social media channels using the handle @orangepippinillustration on either Instagram or Facebook! Or of course drop me an email helencox@orange-pippin.co.uk
All images (c) Alexandra Wallace Photography