This World Mental Health Day, we’re so excited to welcome Frankie Rose Illustration to our thortful community. We’ve partnered with Bryony Gordon and Frankie Rose to bring you a new collection of Affirmations cards – each with a message of care which you can send to someone who deserves it.
100% of the profits from this collection go to Mental Health Mates – a charity founded by Bryony in 2016, bringing people together to talk mental health. Organised by people who experience their own mental health issues, groups meet regularly to walk, connect and share without fear or judgement. We’re proud to support them.
We caught up with Frankie to find out more about her and what helps her mental wellbeing. Over to Frankie!
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Frankie, and I started Frankie Rose Illustration in 2020. I love being outdoors, reading, cake and vegan sausage rolls! I live in Suffolk with my fiance, 2 kids, cat and puppy. I create illustrated prints, postcards, cards, bespoke book prints and as of October, tote bags too!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I am inspired by nature, books, colour combos I see when out and about and strong women! Their spirit and words are often behind the positive affirmations I create. I read a lot of non-fiction by female writers, and that is a huge source of inspiration to me. I love being outdoors and spending time in the woods and by the sea. I feel instantly calmer for being outdoors. I am always taking photos of shapes, colours or patterns that I spot.
What advice would you give to other creatives starting up?
To just go for it! It can seem like you need so much to get going, but you really don’t. That will all build with time. If you are a print-based creative, get friendly with your local printers, they will be your best friend early on! My independent printers that I use are so lovely and have been so helpful.
How do you stay motivated?
I love being creative. My other job as a photography lecturer gives me some opportunities to be creative, but I was really missing that outlet that was just for me to get lost in. That desire to be creative keeps me motivated. My kids motivate me too as one day I hope to illustrate full-time and work this around them, and be there for more school runs than I currently am.
What does it mean to you to be working with Mental Health Mates and thortful?
It is a huge privilege to work with such an amazing charity. As someone who has struggled with my mental health in the past, and continues to manage it on a daily basis now, charities like Mental Health Mates are a vital support network. The fact that I can help raise money for them fills me with pride. Working with Thortful is a total dream, and I cannot wait to see my designs on cards and know that people have chosen my words and designs to send to someone they love!
What's one thing you find helps your mental wellbeing?
Being outdoors and moving my body is such a tonic for me. I can feel the stress lifting when I see the sea! I know lots of people don’t always want to talk about this: medication; that is the biggest way I help my mental wellbeing, by ensuring that I take it every day.
What's your favourite affirmation from the collection?
I think my favourite has to be ‘all is well, my darling’ as that print sparked this whole collection. However I love ‘do the thing you think you can’t’ as these are such good words to live by – plus I love the flowers and green combo!
If you feel like you’d like to improve your mental health, but you’re not quite sure where to start, something we can strongly recommend is the Every Mind Matters campaign. You can take a short online quiz which creates a free NHS-approved Mind Plan for you; it’s got tips and practical steps you can follow to help manage the pressures we all feel day-to-day. To take the quiz and get your Mind Plan, visit the Every Mind Matters page.
As you might have guessed, we’re also really keen on the work of Mental Health Mates. To find out more about them, including which groups are near you, visit their website: mentalhealthmates.co.uk
