Hello and welcome to the Paper Nelly.
My name is Samantha and I am a designer based in Lancaster, Lancashire UK.
I love painting, drawing and creating gifts. Oh, and in case it wasn't obvious, I LOVE Elephants! Such beautiful animals <3
I was artistic from a young age, painting always brought me joy. Even helping me through stresses of school and sleepless nights. To me there's nothing art cannot help with. After school I studied Textile Innovation Design at university where I specialised in surface pattern design. I have been a designer and maker for other companies, large and small, and loved what I did. All was great.
It wasn't until I had children that things needed to change. I was struggling to fit the working life I had and being a mum together. My work and family life were suffering from the conflict, as was both my mental and physical health. I was so tired, stressed and overwhelmed that I decided 'I cannot do this anymore'. Something had to give and I didn't want it to be me or the family. So I made, what felt like at the time, a massive decision to give up working, just for a year or so, until the children were comfortably in school, and then get back into working.
Great! I now had time to recover. To breath. But most importantly to be there for my family. Recovery wasn't instant by any means, but with the massive support of my partner I managed to get myself back together.
As it turned out it was the best decision I ever made. The time also gave me the chance to paint and design for myself again. I couldn't remember the last time i hadn't thought of it as a "job". I was making gifts for friends and family and I was loving it again, when I started to get commissioned to make gifts for their friends and family, and so on, through word of mouth.
After about a year of that I decided to turn it into my own little business.
the Paper Nelly was born!
In 2019, about a year after first setting up I became one of Theo Paphitis #SBS winners with the Paper Nelly! An accolade I am very proud of!
I am now doing what I love as a business with the Paper Nelly and have zero regrets giving it a go!
I concentrate on creating unique art, limited run prints, handmade gifts, cards and more. Using recycled card and paper, to save trees, sourced locally from a family run business, to reduce the carbon footprint, and eco packaging that is 100% recycled and can be recycled or composted!
Helping to make life special while being conscious of our environment.
I love creating personal gifts that make others happy.
Happiness is what I work for.
As you may be able to tell by now I am not a writer so thank you for taking the time to get this far and read a little about me.
Samantha Ann
Designer & Artist at the Paper Nelly
