I grew up on a farm in Cambridgeshire, which has had a huge inspiration for much of my artwork today. With a keen interest in my farming background, I gained a degree in Rural Enterprise & Land Management from Harper Adams University in 2013.
It was my intention to pursue a career in land management, however in November 2013 I was given the opportunity to undertake an 11 month internship with artist James Gillick. As soon as the internship finished, I knew that a career in art was where I saw myself, and 9 years on my journey through the creative world continues.
Having built up my career in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding area, in January 2023 I look a huge leap and moved to the highlands of Scotland, where my partner lived at the time. I’ve been so lucky to be able to explore the area for a year, however in February 2024 it was time for us to head further south to be closer to family. I now find myself working from my home studio in the Cumbrian countryside, designing bespoke wedding stationery, working on pet commissions, standing behind an easel painting still life or out exploring the amazing countryside.
In 2018 I was asked by a friend to design some personalised placemats for their children, and from that moment designing and selling them became a staple of my business. Over the last 5 years I have gone from offering two designs, to now having twelve, with many more in the pipeline.
Not only are they a fun addition to any table, but their large size (380 x 290 mm) and durability make them a must have for mealtimes, baking, crafts and more. I am also proud to say all my placemats are manufactured in the UK using sustainable materials and I work closely with the manufacturers to make sure each placemat is of the highest quality.
I also offer many other personalised products, including notecards, invitations and art prints. If you are looking for something special but don’t see it on my website, please feel free to get in contact and I am sure I can help you out.
As well as Personalised By Sophie, I also have a few other strings to my bow which keep me super busy. Please feel free to have a look at my other websites:
www.sophiebotsford.com – Bespoke wedding stationery and other products including Shoot Cards, Glass Splashbacks and Limited Edition Prints
www.sophiebotsfordfineart.com – Original Oil Paintings
www.botsfordbespoke.com – Bespoke metal art for inside your home, garden or business.