Jen Winnett - Eco-Artist
This Freelance Insights interview features eco-artist Jen Winnett.
If you love animals and colour and care about the environment, you need to check out Jen’s work! She paints the most beautiful animals using bright colours, and all of her products are eco-friendly, made by small suppliers in the UK.
The first product I bought from her was a set of her seed paper cards, which are made from biodegradable paper and infused with wildflower seeds. When you’ve finished with one of these cards, you plant it and you’ll have an enduring memory of the person who sent it - a gift and card in one!
Since that first purchase I’ve bought several other things from Jen too, including one of her eco mini bags. I chose the design with Harriet the Hare on, but she has so many different animals to choose from (each with their own name!). My most recent purchase was the original of Raza the Rainbow Rabbit, which she painted to raise money for the NHS during lockdown.
Jen's offering readers of this interview 10% off across her whole range of products. Click the button further down this page and enter the code FREELANCEINSIGHTS at checkout.
How do you describe what you do for work?
I'm an eco-artist who creates colourful animal illustrations. I print these onto eco-friendly gifts and products using other small UK suppliers.
What's your favourite thing about working freelance?
The thing I love most is the flexibility and freedom. Right now it's a Thursday and I should be working, but I've worked since 7am and it's a nice day so I decided to go for a walk at 2pm! I have no time I have to get back for so I'll walk for as long as I want and then go back home. It's having the freedom to go with your body's rhythm - some working days are 12 hours and some days are 3 hours. That's what I love most about it.
Where do you usually work from?
I would love to get a studio one day, but at the moment I paint from my dining room table. When I'm doing admin - website admin, accounts, stuff like that - I try to get out to coffee shops, just for a change of scenery. I quite like the hustle and bustle of it! I try to do two admin days a week and three at-home painting days.
What does a normal working day look like for you?
It varies depending on how I'm feeling, but I do have a morning routine that goes on regardless. I start by having breakfast and taking the dog for a walk. I've also got a horse, so I sort her out and go for a ride in the morning. So even though I have an early start because of the animals, I don't actually start work until about 10am! But then I feel great because I've had some fresh air and moved my body, so I find it easier to sit down for the day to work. I normally start with emails, because that gives people the chance to reply to me all day. Under normal circumstances, I post orders out every day so I pack them up in the morning, do a bit of painting, and go to the post office at lunchtime. I'll then sometimes stay out at a coffee shop for the afternoon before coming home.
What one tip would you give other freelancers about running a freelance business?
Boundaries! It's something I'm still working on... A lot of freelancers go freelance because they've found something they're so passionate about and enjoy so much, which is amazing! I definitely fit into that bracket. The problem when you're doing something that you love so much is that you want to do it all the time, every day, because everything is so exciting. Last year I realised that you can't work 7-day weeks - it's not sustainable, even if you enjoy it - so now I try to give myself at least one day a week off. It's quite hard, because when fairs get going they're normally every weekend. I try to do my fair preparation on Thursdays and give myself Fridays off.
Free resource
Jen's offering readers of this interview 10% off across her whole range of products. Head to her website to browse her beautiful art and gifts and enter the code FREELANCEINSIGHTS at checkout.
Connect with Jen
Email: jenwinnettart@outlook.com
Website: www.jenwinnettart.co.uk
Instagram: @jenwinnettart
Facebook: @jenwinnettart
