A little about me…
Hello- I’m Emma, the person behind Kind Lettering (formerly The Kind Designer)! I am a modern calligrapher based in Oxfordshire and live with my husband Dan, our rescue dog Rosie and bearded dragon, Hans! I am obsessed with keeping fit (in particular, I love strength training/weightlifting), being outdoors, reading (a LOT) and baking.
My background
At 18, I completed a foundation diploma in Art and Design, exploring different artistic subjects and discovering a love for illustration and graphic design. I didn’t take this further as a career at the time, instead training to qualify as a Registered Veterinary nurse!
Starting calligraphy
Although I enjoyed my nursing career, I wasn’t completely fulfilled. Almost 5 years later at the end of 2020, I began learning calligraphy to express my creative side again, instantly falling in love with it! Calligraphy is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness, helping me to combat the burnout I was experiencing in my job.
I used my skills to create all of the on-the-day stationery and signage for my own wedding back in June 2021, and have since become a recommended supplier for my own wedding venue - Stratton Court Barn, as well as many other venues.
As well as creating stationery for weddings, I also create bespoke calligraphy pieces - for example, a special poem, verse of lyrics or quote for all sorts of occasions.
Live events & teaching
I moved into the live event calligraphy sector once I had built up my experience and confidence with my calligraphy, working in-store for luxury brands such as Bentley, Dior (on behalf of UK Lettering), Jo Malone, Diptyque, Russell & Bromley, Coach (on behalf of The Modern Calligraphy Co), Charlotte Tilbury (on behalf of Dunwell Calligraphy) and more. Live events are so rewarding, as you can really elevate a customer’s experience, creating something beautiful right before their eyes.
After becoming ambassador for Oxfordshire for The Modern Calligraphy Co, as well as teaching online and at craft shows, I quickly realised my passion for teaching calligraphy to others. I love to show how mindful and inclusive hand lettering can be, as well as seeing the progress from total beginner to confident calligrapher.
Values
I’m a huge animal lover, and spent my teenage years/early 20s rescuing any and every animal I could. I have been vegan since 2016, and everything I do is based around creating the least harm possible. With this in mind, all of my products are created using carefully sourced cruelty free and vegan materials, and all of my packaging is plastic free, compostable and/or recyclable!
