Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jayné Cahill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Jayné, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

The first dollar I made as a creative artist was when I was 13 years old!

I was diagnosed with Lupus after being ill most of my childhood and had to isolate from friends and family during flare-ups. (Life during the covid pandemic felt very familiar to me!)

While in isolation all those years ago, I couldn’t sit still. I have always needed to have a project of some sort going on! I decided to help raise funds to help find a cure for the almost unknown disease I had just been diagnosed with. So I handmade greeting cards, designing a range with silhouette Edwardian figures for various occasions.

I hand-drew each card, which I sold for a donation to Lupus Research.

By age 15, I had progressed to drawing holiday cottages and homes for inclusion in the Scottish Tourist Board brochure, earning £10 per drawing!

It’s strange that after all these years, my artistic life has gone full circle, and I am back creating intricate line drawings of buildings and designing my quirky range of greeting cards!

Jayné, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jayné Cahill, and I am a Scottish Graphic Designer and Artist living and working in inspirational Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, Ireland.

I grew up in Kirk Yetholm, a small village nestled in the foothills of the Cheviots in the Scottish Borders.

I have always loved art and knew I wanted to be an artist. By the time I was about eight, I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer! I was fascinated by the album covers of the 1970s and 80s and knew that’s what I wanted to do.

I was over the moon to be accepted by the prestigious Edinburgh College of Art, and after a foundation year, I studied Visual Communications, specialising in Graphic Design and photography.

My career kicked off at the architecture and design firm BDG McColl, where I relished creating brands, brochures, and commercial property marketing campaigns in the heart of Edinburgh.

After a couple of years I wanted a change so I ventured into packaging and point-of-sale design for brands like Drambuie and Edinburgh Crystal.

A “sliding doors” moment changed the direction of my life when I missed a train and bumped into an old college friend. Over coffee, she offered me the opportunity to work in newspaper and magazine design just as computers revolutionised the industry.

For over 30 years, I’ve enjoyed working in the media, publications, and corporate design industry, running my design consultancy in Ireland for the past two decades.

During the first Covid-19 lockdown, when everything closed down, I switched off my computer and dusted down my drawing board. After many years of building my clients’ businesses, I decided to concentrate on my own and follow my dreams.

I have always been fascinated with architecture, and had started on a series of drawings of local buildings when my children were small, so I picked up my Rotring pen again, and the collection has grown.

While my drawings are predominately local to County Waterford, I accept commissions from all over the world.
Framed or mounted limited edition prints are proving very popular, and my drawings reproduce perfectly as cards, making excellent personalised wedding invitations.

I have also designed a range of quirky greeting cards for every occasion. I create and print the cards in my studio and then hand-finish each using various mediums, including nail varnish, which adds extra dimension and sparkle!

In 2020, I decided to take advantage of the “Staycation” market. With so much local artistic talent, I launched a Craft and Design Market on Sundays on the lawns of The Haven Hotel in Dunmore East during the summer months.
The market quickly grew from six to 20 stalls before I handed over the reins in 2023, giving me more time to be creative and explore other markets.

I also sell through several local retail outlets and from my online store at www.jaynecahill.com

I have just completed my first Waterford “Winterval”, Ireland’s biggest Christmas Festival, which has just been awarded “European City of Christmas 2024”. I am very much looking forward to being part of the festival again this year.

The markets have enabled me to meet my customers, which is the best part of my job. Watching them as they see details they’d never noticed before in familiar places is a joy. Also, hearing the stories of their memories of places visited, lived in and loved is fascinating.

I have never felt more fulfilled. I am finally living my dream!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

A pivotal moment in my personal and business life happened when I bumped into a college friend who had just got off the train I had just missed!

I was living and working in Edinburgh at the time. Jenny was a designer for a newspaper in Glasgow but was looking to move to London.

Over coffee, Jenny suggested I try some weekend shifts at her newspaper. The next thing we knew, she packed for London, and I got her job!

I loved the fast-paced world of production journalism and enjoyed the challenge of the (very) steep learning curve!

Soon enough, I was head-hunted to become the Art & Production Editor at The Scottish Daily Express. In the mid-nineties, being a female editor was rare, and I often got asked if I was someone’s secretary. But that only fueled my determination to prove them wrong!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

In our fast-paced world, people overlook the beauty and details around them. We don’t allow ourselves to pause and truly appreciate our surroundings.

Having relocated to Waterford, Ireland, 21 years ago, much of my time has been consumed by the demands of running my design consultancy and raising a family. It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause that I had the opportunity to indulge in my passion for drawing and take a closer look at the enchanting county I now call home.

Waterford’s stunning beaches, rugged Copper Coast, and striking architecture have become the subjects of my artistic exploration. Each scene fills me with excitement and a renewed appreciation for the place I now call home.

Sharing my drawings with others is a joy, especially witnessing their fresh perspective on familiar locations. It has become my mission to inspire people to uncover the intricacies of their daily lives. Rather than waiting for a moment to admire my artwork, I encourage them to slow down, savour the finer details, and find beauty firsthand in the tapestry of their existence.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jaynecahill.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaynecahilldesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaynecahilldesign
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayné-cahill-2b72a875/