Kate Highmore Illustration

05/05/2026

10/04/2026

It’s bluebell season, so what better time to share this painting with you! This was a dream commission, capturing the client’s shepherd’s hut in a corner of the gorgeous woodland they own. I am so jealous! How absolutely magical. This was my final commission before I stopped work to have my baby in Feb and what a lovely way to start maternity leave. Back then, things were still a bit chilly and grey more often than not, but now the hedgerows are starting to pop with colour - when you see blue bells pop up, you know that longer days and green shoots are on the way 🪴Swipe to see some process pics

bluebells

04/12/2025

In the spirit of good old Throwback Thursday, I am feeling nostalgic today because it’s exactly 6 years since I launched my business, with this, my very first print! The Sale map will always be special to me. When I created this in October-November 2019, I was juggling late night painting sessions with a full on job. I finished the map by late November and nervously ordered a print run of 10 then added them to my brand new Etsy shop, with no idea what I was doing or what would happen. Thanks to a bit of local Facebook advertising, I’d sold out of all 10 by the very next day, which was just magical to me! I will never forget the first time I heard the ‘ding’ of the Etsy seller app announcing a sale - I jumped out of my skin, no idea what it was! After a fairly bonkers few years during which I’ve juggled 2, sometimes 3 jobs, THIS autumn is the first time i’ve been completely freelance and dedicated to my business, and I’m so excited by what I’ve achieved already in this new era. Thanks so so much for being with me on the journey!
PICS:
1 - 4th December 2019, the day I had my first order of...
2 - The Sale map!
3 - Here she is in all her glory
4 - My first pile of orders to post
5-6 My first wholesale order from No9 the loft, a few days later. I was overjoyed and still am, to be stocked there
8-9 - Life then (and why I looked so tired in pic 1 - late nights and frenzied days at in a busy orchestra marketing team for 5 years!
10 - Life NOW - why I look so happy! At my first Sale Makers Market The Makers Market

20/11/2025

Oh my word, last Sunday…I was absolutely blown away, and thankfully not by any kind of inclement weather! Honestly, the response to my very first The Makers Market stall at Sale Makers Market was phenomenal, better than I could have dreamed. We didn’t stop all day, it whizzed by, and I had so many lovely, lovely conversations with customers - I felt slightly overcome at the lovely feedback I received about my products. Thank you to everyone who came to chat, browse and indeed purchase something, it’s all so much more appreciated than you know. I spent weeks planning my stall around commissions and other work, I was slightly obsessed - I enjoyed it so much. I felt like I was getting to play at being a visual merchandiser! I wanted to create a lovely shopping experience for people, somewhere to stop and browse and chat, and I think we did it! I say ‘we,’ because there is no way I could have done any of this without the wonderful man stood beside me. My husband, an extremely talented accountant and musician, is also an all round star, providing emotional and practical support at absolutely every turn! He is instrumental in any success I have with Kate Highmore Illustration. Not just the wind beneath my wings but the actual bloody wings! Can we have a big old round of applause for him please. I’m back at Sale Makers Market again on 21 December for their magical Christmassy market. See you there!

03/11/2025

Lovely to see my new listing in the Makers' Market directory! I am going to be doing my first two Makers Markets this year on 16 November and 21 December with Sale Makers Market. I could not be more excited!

Unbelievably, these are my first ever markets (apart from my canal boat pop ups last month) in almost 6 years of running Kate Highmore Illustration. (Just goes to show what working for the BBC, even 'part time,' did for my own personal work-life balance! However wonderful it was to work there!) Now that I'm working full time on my business, I've so enjoyed having capacity to actually plan my stall alongside my commissions and client work. It's been a big project in itself actually just getting ready for my markets, from designing my table runner (see piccies!) to organising stock and styling my table. I'm raring to go in just under a fortnight. Here's hoping the weather's decent!

https://www.themakersmarket.co.uk/maker/kate-highmore-illustration/