hELLO. I am jess

Hello. I am Jess/Jessica. (I will get a better photo of me at some point)..

I am primarily a mother of six…to three biological children, and recently a step mother of sorts to three more (I became a mother almost 8 years ago and slowly I’ve accepted this is for now, my most important role in this world). I am secondly, a creative. I have tried, and failed many times to extuingish the creative side of my brain and focus on more lucrative ways of making dollar but I have realised that this is unfulfilling and ultimately unsuccessful!

When I graduated from University (I shunned art college at the last minute to do a more “traditional” degree at a red brick University) I managed to scramble my way on to a graduate scheme at a top London advertising agency. Goodness knows how - it was easier almost twenty years ago to get a job and climb the greasy ladder. I feel so sorry for the new generation in this world post covid and working from home, the economy and the negative impact that AI. is having on the job market.

I loved the excitement of the advertising industry, the people, the glamour. When I started it was so much akin to the hey-day and all that “Madmen” encapsulates. The parties we threw for clients were always at the most incredible London hotels, our in-house parties were thrown on the top floor of Harvey Nichols or at a run down Chelsea town house adorned with candles and top DJ’s. The bar of the agency had its own roof garden over-looking Knightsbridge with views over Harrods. We were spoilt but also incredibly hard working (or so I thought!). The hours were long and we had much to do. But I loved it and made so many lifelong friends. Unfortunately not having done a degree in the arts after all I was thrown in to the business side and having naively thought I could move over to the creative side was becoming more unrealistic. I was very shy, despite an outgoing demeanour, and public speaking was horrifying to me. I did do some excellent hypnotherapy to help me with these fears which helped enormously.

Slowly the industry (like many creative industries) started suffering with budget cuts all over the shop and the number of accounts we were forced to work on multiplied, making days even longer and more waring. The parties were minimised and the fun was minimised. The pay was pretty poor but the original joy and excitement made living on beans on toast and always having the smallest room in the house I shared with my London friends was worthwhile.

I became depressed and suffered with anxiety. It was ashamed of feeling so weak and low. But fortunately one bonus of the advertising contract was that I had private healthcare. I did see a professional and they helped me hugely and I was told to slow down. One of the bonuses of being given a bit of time off (two weeks and I went to stay with my Granny in Devon on her farm) was re identifying with what I actually wanted to achieve in life.

I signed myself on to an illustration course at Central St. Martins and a graphic design course at Camden Working Men’s college when I got back and did this part time.

Slowly I was creating works and blogging them and people started asking to buy them! I set up on Not on the High Street and my work was flying out of the window. I did an art exhibition in the Clerkenwell Gallery and the Conran Shop asked me to do a bespoke napkin and cushions featuring my Lobster designs. Followed on by Harrods who asked me to do a range of Christmas Decorations. The decorations were so successful as they featured an eye mask with a pom pom trim that they asked me to develop a small cosmetic range and from here the brand I didn’t meant to start grew and grew. I got married in 2014 to Ben, the father of my three biological children and quit full time advertising, went freelance to pay the bills and focused on my weeks off advertising on growing my then brand Jessica Russell Flint.

The brand grew, we launched into fashion and sleepwear, we were in most department stores world wide and we had a studio with ten people in our Dalston Head office. Then Covid hit. My husband lost his job.. I had my second baby and we were looking for a way out.

I shut up the studio, we found a renovation project in Hambledon, Hampshire and moved, with a two year old, a newborn and a dog to a new life in Hampshire. I carried on the brand remotely and my husband got a new remote working job.

Since then life has changed pretty dramatically. Very sadly (although happily too as we remain great friends) Ben and I divorced. I have a third child, we renovated the original house (and I would love to share the journey). I sold my fashion business (It was too much with a divorce and three children under 5 at the time) and have moved into a new house built in 1998 that we are trying to restore and make as much of a period cottage as possible. I now live with my new boyfriend, my three children, his three children, my old dog Betty (part time), our new whippet puppy Skittle and six guinea pigs… Life is full on.

Oh.. and started a new homeware business and interior decoration!