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Emma Bond Illustrations
Finding Her Creative Voice and Building a Thriving Illustration Business
Meet Emma Bond, the creative powerhouse behind a joyful collection of handmade illustrations and prints, all lovingly crafted in her Walthamstow studio in East London. Emma’s journey hasn’t been a straight line, and that’s exactly what makes her story so relatable for creative entrepreneurs everywhere.
A Maker at Heart: The Path to Illustration
Emma’s background is as colourful as her work. She originally studied ceramics at university, but soon realised her true passion was in the patterns, decoration, and minute details that brought those ceramics to life. Bit by bit, her focus shifted, from hand-painting ceramics to dabbling in textile design, and then, quite organically, into illustration.
I found myself drawn to surface pattern in all its forms. Eventually, I landed on pen and ink illustration, often working with food and drink companies, and always circling back to the things I love: foods, flowers, animals, anything nature-inspired.”
Emma Bond, Founder
Website: https://www.emmabondillustration.com/
Follow Emma Bond on: Instagram
But like so many creatives, Emma faced a crossroads after the birth of her second child. She had spent years designing for other people and suddenly realised she didn’t know what her own style was anymore. Maternity leave gave Emma the space to really experiment, to play with printmaking and rediscover what she loved about making things by hand.
It was during this period that Emma stumbled on Tetrapak as a printmaking material, sparking a lightbulb moment. Everything she had spent years playing around with seemed to come together when she discovered it. Suddenly, Emma could make the prints and artworks she’d always dreamed of. That’s when Emma decided to create her own range and really put her distinctive style out there.
A Unique Approach in a Digital Age
Emma’s process is refreshingly hands-on in an era dominated by digital tools and AI. She uses materials in ways you haven’t seen elsewhere, combining cut-outs, printmaking, and digital techniques. But everything starts with something tangible and handmade, which is really important to her. Emma finds there is a certain magic in the imperfections and textures you get from working by hand.
The Business Challenge: From Inspiration to Organisation
Like many creative businesses, Emma’s main hurdle wasn’t a lack of ideas it was the nitty-gritty of making her business function. Struggling with imposter syndrome because she didn’t train as an illustrator, and Emma didn’t really know how to put herself forward. She understood that building a website was more than just a pretty portfolio, figuring out how to actually sell her work, and developing a plan for what she wanted to achieve, those were her sticking points.
Emma states that a huge part of it was confidence. Having clear structures in place, a professional website, and a solid idea of what she wanted to achieve made all the difference. Once Emma could say, ‘This is me, this is what I do”, she felt ready to approach new clients and opportunities.
How Onwards and Up Helped Emma Grow
That’s where Onwards and Up came in. Toyin helped Emma break things down into manageable steps, building her website, sorting out my online shop, and linking everything up to Instagram so it all worked seamlessly. Suddenly, the technical side wasn’t so daunting. Emma felt confident about her online presence looking professional and reflected her work.
But it wasn’t just about the nuts and bolts. Having one-to-one support from someone who really understood her business was invaluable. Toyin made it all feel achievable, whether that was emailing a potential client or figuring out which processes Emma needed.
“Sometimes you just need someone outside your friends and family who can sit down, listen, and help you work out what to do next.”
The Impact: Confidence, Clients, and Creative Clarity
The results speak for themselves. The impact has been huge. Emma has worked with so many more clients, including running the learning programme at a leading London gallery and exhibiting her work there. Emma would have never have contacted them if she hadn’t had the foundations in place. Now, Emma has got her blurbs ready, website links set up, everything she needs for applications which is a world away from where she started.
Emma’s digital presence now acts as a launchpad for new opportunities, making it much easier to approach galleries, clients, and collaborators.
Looking Forward: What’s Next for Emma Bond?
Emma is feeling optimistic and ambitious about the future. The step is to extend her range into wholesale and she would love to collaborate with more companies. Flowers and printmaking are her happy place, so she would like to keep pushing her illustrative work in that direction. Emma is also keen to get into more museums and galleries, and to deliver more learning programmes across London. It’s a mix, because she loves teaching as much as making and both feed her creativity in different ways.
Emma's Top Tips for Creative Businesses
Know What You’re Trying to Achieve
“It sounds obvious, but get really clear on your goals. I spent ages drifting because I didn’t have a plan or know who my work was for.”
Get the Basics in Place:
“Have a website, social media, and key documents sorted before you start reaching out. Structure gives you confidence; you don’t want to be constantly backpedalling.”
Be Realistic About Your Time
“Track how long things actually take, both for your own sanity and for costing your work properly. A wall planner in front of you can make a world of difference!”
And a bonus: “Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, sometimes you just have to take a leap, even if your blurb or document is a work in progress. You never know what opportunities you might miss if you hold back.”
Emma’s story is a brilliant reminder that creative businesses don’t have to choose between artistry and strategy, with the right support, you can have both. And when you do, the possibilities really are endless. Watch this space!