Creativity fills the household of Susie Thomas, the founder and owner of Rocket and Co. Not only is her studio and home beautifully decorated, Jim Farrant, Susie’s partner, is also an artist who creates stunning oil paintings.

Originally, Susie trained as an illustrator and worked at a greetings card publisher in Bath. It was while on maternity leave with her son Max (now 6) that she started making paper cut artworks and Rocket & Co. began.

“I needed something that would work around my family, the artworks I create with Rocket & Co. allow me to pick up and put down again around my children” she explains. What started off as a side-line to her freelance illustration has now become her main creative focus.

Susie initially created artworks from buttons, scrabble pieces and book pages but it was the map pieces that quickly became the most successful. “People can choose their map locations, so you get a really unique and personal piece of artwork” explains Susie.

Susie’s inspiration stems from the material that she gathers, when she finds two things that link – inspiration clicks. Particularly when she did a piece named ‘dogs of the world’. The countries that certain dogs originate from are cut into the shape of that dog, for example chihuahuas are cut from a map of Mexico.

Butterflies are also a very popular choice. “I think that butterflies are very symbolic of freedom and new beginnings” she explains, “they go really well with the uplifting quotes I use in my artworks. They also lend themselves really well to the beautiful colours of the old maps and book pages I use.”

Susie sells her work in ‘The Emporium Somerset’ in Wellington, ‘The Ginger Fig’ in Taunton and online via her website. She has seen her business grow since joining The Emporium Somerset last year and was awarded the Muddy Stilettos “Best local producer-creative” award in 2016.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of the Emporium, not only to have my artworks sold alongside some of the most talented artists and creators in the south west but also to have the opportunity to meet up and socialise with them” she explains “I think Taunton has become more of creative hub nowadays.”

As her family grows and her youngest child Phoebe (now 4) begins school Susie intends to pursue her illustration career once more but she assures me that she will still carry on with Rocket & Co. and hopes to integrate her paper cutting skills with her illustrating in the future.

If you would like to find out more, visit: www.rocketandco.co.uk