Angela Spurgeon, founder of Artwork by Angie, reminds people of the nature and beauty that surrounds us in everyday life. She aims to combat the sadness created by challenges we face every day, through her bright and beautiful artwork.

“When I get a germ of an idea, I immediately write it down” Angie explains. “Then, when I get chance to do something about that idea, I start by creating very rough scamps / thumbnails of the layout to get a sense of the overall composition and how any text should be set. Then I set about carefully drawing the images to be used in the finished piece, before scanning and colouring them on the computer.”Somerset County Gazette: Bring colour into your home with Angie’s Illustration

These ideas come in many shapes and sizes, but Angie admits that her favourite collection this year has been her British Nature Guides, a collection that consists of eight designs that feature about 12 different species of animals, plants or birds. “I’m usually fired up by whatever collection of designs I am working on at any given time” Angie comments. “This is mainly because creating a design is all consuming until it’s out of my head and made real. Which, to me, is a fantastic feeling and one of the reasons why I do illustration.”

The wedding collection is also an exciting venture for Angie and every custom wedding set she has created has been unique. She has had brides to work with each year and admits that it is always an honour to be asked and play a little part in the planning for their big day. Angie tells us that she has often been asked for a set of illustrations that the brides can use to make their own, hand finished invites.Somerset County Gazette: Bring colour into your home with Angie’s Illustration

Celia Birtwell and William Morris are artists who greatly inspire Angie’s work. “Both use nature in their designs in a very beautiful way”, Angie explains. She admits that is it great to meet other local artists as well, to bounce ideas off and encourage each other’s work.

Nature is a key influence upon Angie’s own artwork. She spent her 20s living in London, but admits that she missed the Somerset hills, levels and coast. Somerset inspires her, from the Quantock hills to Cheddar Gorge to the coast at Kilve. “If I get stuck for ideas, I try to get out and about to go somewhere and take a break and I often know exactly where I need to go to help get ideas flowing again.”Somerset County Gazette: Bring colour into your home with Angie’s Illustration

The seasons are prominent throughout the designs as well. Angie admits that the art licensing side of her business is very seasonal and is geared around the major trade shows for art buyers. “I recently started working with an art agency based in the US, who showcase my designs, along with the work of the other artists they represent, at a huge trade fair called Surtex in New York each May. Lots of my designs are created with that show in mind as it’s where art buyers from around the world go to buy art and it’s important to have a strong collection ready to be seen there.”

Family is also an inspiration for Angie and she began freelancing when she became a mum. She achieved a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design and spent 12 years in the advertising industry before beginning her own business – so she was well prepared. “Seeing both our daughters grow and begin to develop a joy for all things creative reminded me of what I had always dreamed of doing when I grew up” Angie explains, “which was simply drawing & colouring in. Setting up an illustration and design business seemed to make total sense at the time and now, eleven years later - it still makes sense to me.”

“I simply want to raise a smile and put some colour back into the world” Angie says. She is passionate about her designs and aims to bring a little bit of happiness into people’s lives through her bright and colourful artwork.

“I love what I do and I’m big advocate for finding work doing what you love, as it helps make the world a happier place. I’m trying to lead by example and show my children the importance of doing what you love and how that has a positive impact on everything. It’s good to be passionate about something because that joy is infectious and there is no better feeling than seeing that you have made someone smile.”

Visit www.artworkbyangie.com if you would like to find out more.