About Hannah

I was the kid who was always sketching and making things, and it seems nothing’s changed! I took my Foundation year at UCA Farnham, and discovered a love for modern illustration and graphics. Later, I began a part-time Fine Art degree alongside work, but never finished the course, due to many life factors that I won’t bore you with now! However, I continued to create, whilst working in the youthwork sector, and setting up my own illustration business, Hannah Shelbourne Designs. My focus was on whimsical ink and watercolour designs, and my hand illustrated greetings cards are still available to order on notonthehighstreet.com.

My card designs are very different to my fine art and interiors work; many people might think they were made by different people. For years I felt I needed to decide on a single style, but I’ve realised, with the wisdom of years (!) that creativity is like an enormous, swirling galaxy, and cannot be compartmentalised into neat boxes and genres. It’s this variety and endless possibility that keeps me inspired and motivated. Check out the Interiors and Fine Art pages to read more about the inspiration and ideas behind my work.

My artwork seems to reflect my life and personality - chaotic and changeable, but also considered and treasured. My mixed media pieces take hours to create, but often give the impression of quick and random movement. I like this juxtaposition of energy and stasis, and playing with materials, so that viscous paint appears flat and static, whereas rigid card seems to dance across the canvas. There’s rarely deep meaning behind my pieces, but they seem to carry my moods and meditations from the creative process inside them: they take on a life on their own.

Alongside my family life and artwork, I also enjoy writing historical fiction - I am self publishing my first novel later this year. Since 2020, I’ve run a business importing soft toys and collectibles from around the world. In 2022, I completed a History Degree with the OU, and have spent many rewarding hours over the past couple of years working with young people as a learning mentor in a secondary school. I’m a reader, a cat person, a country bumpkin, and I love embroidery and English Paper Piecing patchwork. It might be a bit of a mishmash, but it all makes up my creative galaxy.