We were lucky to catch up with Bethany Lord recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bethany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Yes! Vacations and rest periods are so important to take to help stop the feeling of being burnt out. They revive me and help me feel inspired to create more work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Bethany Lord and I am a freelance Illustrator based in South West London. I studied Illustration in Bournemouth and most recently my MA at Kingston University. I have been freelancing in Illustration for just a couple of years now working in children’s book illustration, exploring different natural wonders of the world, travel editorial illustration and packaging illustration. My work explores travel, lifestyle and the world through bold digital colour palettes and different layering techniques to create depth and detail. I create all of my work digitally using my iPad.
My latest work explores different locations around the world, including the Mediterranean and maps of my favourite cities across the USA. I draw on my experiences from my travels and experiencing different cultures, Inspiring me to create different pieces of work.

I have worked with publishers such as Quarto, Hachette, Wellbeck and Albatros Media.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I studied Illustration at University which led to me getting my first book deal just after my final year. This was a huge milestone for me and my first job just out of university.

Working part time led to me being completely full time when the pandemic hit because I had to focus my full attention on illustration. This was a huge turning point and really allowed me to push my career further.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media is tough, especially nowadays but it can really be key to business and making connections. I think posting regularly is key to gaining traction and a following that enjoys what you post. Don’t be scared to reach out to others and make connections and ask questions.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BethanyLord.com
• Instagram: @bethanyalicelord
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethanyAliceLord
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethany-lord-347119a3
• Twitter: @LordABethany

Image Credits
Bethany Lord