showpony

I am absolutely delighted to have my products sold in many wonderful stores across the world, I love the huge range of small independent boutiques who carry our goods as well as seeing my items in stores like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Paperchase and Wholefoods Market.
I believe that we should surround ourselves with things that bring happiness and fun into our lives. This means filling our homes with things that mean something to us. If you’re the kind of person who collects strange objects, just can’t throw away that beat up old chair, cherishes the handmade or is attracted like a magpie to bright bold patterns even if they are going to clash horribly with everything else then I think we're on the same wavelength.
How I got started..............
I have always made things, growing up I thought it was normal and what everyone did. My mum will try any craft, she’s a lovely painter and is good at anything she puts her hand to; knitting, sewing, macramé, stain glass the lot... my granny was a fantastic knitter and made everything from those weird dolls for the top of your toilet rolls to an entire nativity scene and pretty much everything in between. My Auntie owned a craft shop so birthdays and Christmasses would often yield some new craft kit de jour and I would spend the next few days playing with fuzzy felts, learning paper quilling, doing tapestries or making miles of crochet snakes. I guess couldn’t really escape craft, art and DIY but I wouldn’t have wanted to - I love it.
I was also your typical horse obsessed teenage girl. When people ask me where the name ‘showpony’ comes from the short answer is to tell them about this obsession (which by the way turns to be a bit more than a teenage thing as I’m now well into my 30s and still ask for a pony every birthday and Chrsitmas). The slightly longer version if you’re interested can be found here.
Despite loving to make and create I had no idea you could make a living doing anything like this so I went to Glasgow University to study sociology. Around half way through I finally realised I wanted to go to art school but tutors and careers advisors persuaded me that I should finish my degree and take a post grad in marketing (because that’s creative isn’t it?) Anyway, I’m a good girl so I did as I was told.
But I didn’t go on to study marketing, instead I got a job in the film industry and spent a few years messing around, going to premieres, parties and screenings but I still knew I wanted to create, so I hatched a plan and managed to get work on film and TV sets. I started as an unpaid runner and eventually made it to prop buyer, maker and art department assistant. Fantastic for a while but still not quite the answer. I wanted my work to be in people’s hands and homes, so finally I did what I should have done all along and went to art school to study product design.
Four years later I graduate with my shiny new degree (yep that’s two now) as a treat to myself I took a screen printing evening class, I was hooked. I sketched, I printed, I bought myself some kit and I designed a cushion.... a cushion that got me selected for the Scottish Show 2006! Showpony was suddenly forced to start, and at a gallop!
Some things I believe in........
· I believe that when somebody walks into your home for the first time they should get a sense of who you are, what you love and how you live your life.
· I believe William Morris knew what he was talking about when he said “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
· I believe that bright colours make you happy.
· I believe in good design and thoughtful details.
· I believe we should do what we can to minimise our impact on our lovely planet.
· I believe dogs should be allowed into shops.
· I believe in going out for drinks on a school night.