The Road to Inked Badger

Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of Inked Badger, where creativity knows no bounds and rules are made to be broken. Ready to dive into the Inked Badger Backstory? Buckle up, 'cause here we go!

Picture this: a pint-sized Van Gogh armed with felt tips and a dream. That was me, folks. From the moment I could scribble, I was on a mission to conquer the art world, one doodle at a time.

Shoutout to my mam for fueling my creative fire with an endless supply of artsy goodies. Birthdays? bags of scrap paper. Christmas? Sketchbooks and stickers. My art drawers were a glorious mess of chaos and colour, and I loved every second of it.

Fast forward to secondary school, where I faced the monumental task of choosing my GCSE subjects. Did I hesitate? Nah. Art was my jam, my sanctuary, my happy place. But hold up—cue the drama queen art teacher who had doubts bigger than my art ambitions. She warned me that pursuing my creative passions wouldn't land me top grades. Challenge accepted, Ms. Doubtful.

Spoiler alert: I aced it with an A*, much to her surprise.

After school I decided to head to college—the golden era of self-discovery and artistic experimentation.

College was my sanctuary, my haven of creativity. I dove headfirst into the Art and Design program, where I was at the peak of my experimental creative journey.

First-year shenanigans? Oh, you bet. From crafting quirky animations to fashioning a Manatee headpiece out of recycled plastics, I was living my best artsy life. But the pièce de résistance? A dollhouse extravagance that transformed an old cabinet into a storytelling masterpiece.

As I moved into my second year, a new interest sparked—photography. Now, I wasn't a stranger to wielding a camera (thanks, Mam, for letting me play with yours), but this time, it was different. This time, I was on a mission—to capture the essence of feminine strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

Enter my photography project, "It's Not An Excuse". Fueled by pure feminine rage, I set out to challenge the status quo. Inspired by real-life injustices and fueled by a rebellious spirit. It was my way of giving voice to the voiceless, of standing up for what's right, and of sparking conversations that mattered.

After college, I'm off to the University of Cumbria to dive into the world of Photography. Let me tell you, it was a whirlwind of lens-clicking and film-rolling madness, but oh-so-rewarding!

Fast forward to graduation day, and there I am diploma in hand, ready to conquer the world. Or so I thought...

Reality check: landing a gig in the creative industry isn't always a walk in the park. Cue a long few years in retail jobs.

Until I grabbed myself a studio assistant job—marketing and social media were my playground, and I was here for it. Office life? Well, let's just say it was a love-hate relationship that may have ended in my first redundancy.

Then, along came People First. A beacon of hope in the corporate sea, this charity not only opened my eyes to the power of marketing but also taught me invaluable lessons about accessibility and inclusion. From editing videos to championing diversity, I was soaking up knowledge like a sponge.

But life, as it often does, threw me another curveball: redundancy round two. Yet, instead of wallowing in defeat, I saw it as a sign—a sign to blaze my own trail and set up shop as the proud founder of Inked Badger.

And there you have it, folks! 🎉 Inked Badger isn't just a business—it's a labour of love, a testament to resilience, and a celebration of creativity in all its forms. From those humble beginnings to where we stand today, I couldn't be prouder of the journey we've embarked upon together. So here's to chasing dreams, breaking barriers, and making our mark on the world—one inked adventure at a time. Stay wild, stay wonderful, and remember: the best is yet to come.

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