My Unconventional Journey

My journey has been anything but ordinary. I didn't exactly take the conventional route into creativity. From Wales to England, from Accounting & Finance to Art Direction, my journey has been full of unexpected turns, each one bringing me a little closer to the work I was always meant to create.

About Me:

ROOTS:

I was born in Wales and spent the first six years of my life there, growing up surrounded by Welsh culture before moving to England and beginning a new chapter. As I grew older, I found myself embracing British culture while remaining deeply connected to my Indian Gujarati heritage. Growing up between these different cultures taught me from an early age that identity isn't necessarily and shouldn’t be one thing. It is a multitude of layers, evolving and shaped by many different influences, experiences and stories.

THE EXPECTED PATH:

For a long time, however, I thought and knew my own story would follow a much more predictable path. I grew up with a strong idea of what I was supposed to do. Finance felt like the sensible choice, and I followed that path all the way to university, studying Accounting & Finance. I enjoyed the analytical side of it, but somewhere along the way I began to realise that I was building a future based more on expectation than excitement.

THE TURNING POINT:

Creativity had always existed alongside that path. I had always drawn, experimented with art and fashion and created things simply because I enjoyed making them. But for a long time, I saw creativity as something to do alongside a career rather than something that could become my career.

During my first year at university, that began to change. I started questioning why I was following a path simply because it seemed like the expected one. I wanted to challenge expectations I had grown up around and, more importantly, permit myself to pursue something because I genuinely loved it.

That realisation became the beginning of my creative journey.

THE CREATIVE SHIFT:

I began exploring creative direction, completed a short course in Creative Direction and eventually moved from numbers and spreadsheets into an MA in Design for Art Direction. Along the way, I discovered that my background in finance hadn't been wasted at all. It had taught me how to think analytically, understand people and problems, organise ideas and consider the bigger picture. All these skills now sit alongside my creative instincts.

WHERE I AM NOW:

Today, I am a multidisciplinary creative experimenting across fashion, creative and art direction, visual storytelling and illustrative design. My practice moves between fashion illustration, editorial, branding, textiles, and conceptual design, often beginning with a simple curiosity and developing into an entire visual world.

In this magnanimous world, I have a special interest in couture, bridalwear, femininity, fantasy, storytelling and the tiny details that make an idea feel alive. But broadly, I’m fascinated by any aspect of the world. I love creating things that aren't simply beautiful, but have a story behind them, whether that's a garment, a publication, a brand or an entire experience.

ENVOI:

My journey hasn't been linear, and I don't think it needs to be.

The finance graduate, the Welsh-born girl, the Gujarati heritage, the illustrator, the art director and the fashion devotee are all parts of the same person.

And perhaps that's what I value most about creativity; it gives you that permission to bring every part of yourself to the table.

Journey

My Professional

  • Design for Art Direction - Master’s

    UNIVERSITY ARTS LONDON | Sept 2024 - Nov 2025

    Accounting and Finance - BSc (Hons)

    UNIVERSITY OF KENT | Sept 2021 - June 2024

    A-LEVELS

    Sept 2019 - May 2021

    GCSE’s

    Sept 2014 - Jun 2019

  • Diploma in Fashion Design

    ALISON | Aug 2024

    Creative Direction Short Course

    CONDE NAST | Oct 2023 - Nov 2023

    Level 2 Certificate in Event Planning (RQF)

    TQUK | June 2023 - Aug 2023

  • Responsible Colleague & Trading Assistant

    Sainsbury’s | Nov 2019 - Present

    Sales Assistant

    The Edinburgh Woollen Mill | Jul 2019 - Nov 2019

    Accounting Assistant

    Maxwell & Co | Jul 2018 - Jul 2018

    Volunteer

    Kidz Klub | Jan 2017 - Jul 2017

  • ✽

    Organisational Skills

    Focused and determined, skilled in project management, budgeting, financial and risk management. Demonstrates effective communication, time management, and attention to detail.

  • ✽

    Analytical Skills

    Observant, logical, and numerically adept with strengths in financial analysis, accounting principles, and risk management. Exhibits keen attention to detail, ethical judgment, and adaptability, ensuring precise problem-solving in diverse scenarios.

  • ✽

    Creative Skills

    Innovative and adaptable, excels in creative problem-solving, design thinking, and collaboration. Expertise includes market research, mood boards, pitching ideas, and crafting compelling brand concepts. Driven by creativity and innovation, focusing on brand identity and market awareness.

  • ✽

    Team and Communication Skills

    Reliable, trustworthy, and a team player, with effective communication skills. Demonstrates flexibility, networking, and technology proficiency. Expertise extends to team collaboration, and successful team management, fostering collaboration solutions and problem-solving within creative and business contexts.