rom the earliest days of my childhood, you could find me tucked away in my bedroom, drawing for hours on end, completely lost in the world of my imagination. My love of fashion was evident from an early age when I began creating my own cartoon character with themed outfits for every occasion, much like my own version of Barbie.
As I grew into my teenage years and discovered new mediums, my love for creating began to evolve in many different forms, including screen printing, hand and machine embroidery, fashion illustration, graphic design, fine art and photography. At my local college, I studied fine art, textiles and photography, dreaming of one day pursuing a future in fashion design.
My plans took an unexpected turn, when my brother invited me to a band practice one evening where he was forming a new group. Having nearly finished all my piano grades at the time, I was confident I could pretend to be a musician for the night. What I thought was a bit of role play for one evening quickly evolved into a 7 year stint in the music industry, writing and performing music, touring the world, festivals and TV and radio appearances.
It was also where I met my husband, Chris, the drummer in the band. Eventually our music era came to a close as we realised the lifestyle no longer aligned with our hopes of starting a family.
Then came another unexpected turn.
Even within this new chapter, I found outlets for my creative thirst. I designed album covers, curated stage outfits and help shape music video ideas. Before long, I had earned the nickname "the creative one".
Chris and my brother went on to build a marketing company, whilst I focused on raising our two boys Herb and Rocket. As the boys grew older, I found ways to help their business creatively - helping them dream up unusual campaigns, imaginative gifting ideas and playful experiences designed to bring people together and help clients grow.
My big boy Herb, a gifted musician, had completed all his drum grades by age 11 - achieving distinctions throughout - and was now searching for a new outlet for his own creativity. He decided he would become a professional performer at age 11. I paused my own work to help support his dreams, and before long he landed his first West End contract in Cameron Macintosh's Oliver!. Of course little brother Rocket was so inspired he announced he too would become an actor at age 9. After a few months of London auditions, he was given a role in a short film.
Once our family was settled in this new rythhm of self-tapes, auditions and West End drop offs, I found myself with something I had not had for a very long time - space to think about myself again.
And the question returned:
What do I want to create?
That question became the foundation of the Hannah Elizabeth brand, because the truth was, I wanted to create everything! From sculptural pieces, to paintings, gifting objects and one-of-a-kind works.
I realised I never wanted to confine myself to a single medium. Drawing inspiration from fashion, I embraced the idea of “edits”, distinct collections that evolve with my creative journey. What excites me most is that I’m not limited to one form; each “edit” can be a fresh exploration of art, design, or storytelling.
Tucked away in a little barn in the countryside, my space will become an open gallery, much like a seasonal fashion show, each collection exploring a different side to my creativity.
I warmly welcome you into my world, where I hope you find a piece that is waiting to connect with you. And above all, I want to inspire artists to break free of boundaries, exploring, evolving, and never confined to just one path.
What do I want to create?
F
