My Top Resources…
Hello Friends!
Today I have a bit of a mini journal post for you all, as I have been asked to share some of my top resources that I use in my creative business. I started this venture in September 2024 and have spent the last year gradually growing my community over on Instagram and sharing my artwork and photographs. I spent this time and the majority of 2025 learning, researching and finding manufacturers ready for the big year of 2026 which I intend to use as a growth year for my business and to start to look to earn an income from my artwork. Yes, it is utterly nerve-wracking but also incredible exciting as I think of the possibilities that come with trying.
For my creative journey there are several top resources and equipment I am using to help set me up in the best way and to give me the workflow I want in my business. Take a peek below at mine -
iPhone 13 Pro Max - I have had this phone for a few years now and many of my photographs, including the ones on this website were taken on it. It’s lightweight so easier when I don’t want to take my bigger camera and great for short video captures for travel reels. As much as I would love to have the new version of this phone, my budget definitely doesn’t allow for that right now. But, it’s a great phone for me right now to keep my Instagram content moving.
Nikon D5600 and lenses - I love this camera and a goal for 2026 is to get this out more and not just use my phone. I tend to shoot in RAW and get the most beautiful, crisp and high quality images when using it. I have a tripod to go with it for my larger lenses that make it heavier but it is a piece of equipment I intend to utilise even more this year.
iPad & Apple Pencil - basically a given for digital artists wanting to hand-draw their illustrations like me. I love using my Apple Pencil and being able to sit anywhere with my iPad will give me the freedom I am looking for down the line and for now, it means I can sit anywhere in the house or garden to illustrate so I am not tied to a desk set up.
Adobe Fresco - the only app I use to create all of my illustrations and Instagram graphics. I use the vector elements of the app rather than the pixel elements such as watercolour. This is only because I want to be able to endlessly scale my artwork and my style is more clean lines and simple imagery rather than loose watercolour florals (which I adore but can’t yet manage the loose style, something I would like to work on in the coming months!)
Adobe Illustrator - all of my patterns are created here and any graphics that I want to make more advanced on a larger screen. It is an incredible piece of software that took me some time to learn, but it is wonderful for pattern creation and being industry standard I wanted to include it within my business.
Adobe Lightroom - I currently use the free mobile version, but this year I will be upgrading to the paid version. I edit every photograph in this app and it takes seconds. I don’t use any other app for photography edits. It is easy to use and the free version is great to get you started. I am only upgrading because I use my camera in RAW and you can only edit these in the paid version.
Squarespace - I use this to create my website and shop, I have used it in the past and find it incredibly user-friendly and the initial templates are beautiful and easy to adapt by adding sections to, which is how I got the scalloped edges that you see throughout the website. If there was anything I was unsure on, I never found it difficult to find the answer to as Sqaurespace seems to have so many answers available to questions. I definitely love it for my website purposes.
iMac Desktop - as I have an iPad and iPhone, getting the iMac made sense for me as everything links through airdrop and I can very easily transfer my Adobe Fresco illustrations across my devices. I love the size of the screen for my workflow, especially when using Illustrator and just find it great overall for my artist work. It was a pricey purchase back in 2020 but I have used it so much since for my artwork that for me, it was worthwhile.
Unfold - I found this app on my phone and use it to layout my Instagram page, it is also from Squarespace which is my website provider so I liked how it all links together. Unfold has meant I have been able to plan my posts out and make a curated feed that I am happy with and then I am not worrying about what to post next and in what order. There are several free templates to get started and I currently only use the free version, but feel I will venture into the paid as my business grows.
Well, those are my top resources/equipment to use in my creative business. Soon, I will share more in this series from favourite books to favourite courses and favourite UK manufacturers. I hope this journal helped a little to show the kind of things I use in my day to day as I try to build this business of mine into something special.