Welcome to my website, I’m Rachel the artist/illustrator/coffee lover behind the brand. I’m based on the outskirts of Limerick City in the South West of Ireland. I specialise in bright & whimsy paintings illustrated by hand with watercolour and gouache. I hope you enjoy taking a browse through my work :)

For collaborations or enquiries please get in touch hello@rachelleahystudio.com 

A little more about me...

EDUCATION & CAREER: 

After months of deliberating between art college or business college, I decided to get a degree in Business and Event Management in Limerick Institute of Technology and graduated in 2015. Back then, my decision was based on the safest/ quickest way to start making money and building a career.

During my four years of study I gravitated towards the marketing industry and quickly became besotted with it, probably because it allowed me to use my creativity. After graduating, I spent 6 years working in marketing roles in a host of industries including a coffee roastery (hence my obsession with coffee), a children’s charity, a brand agency, a hotel and a print manufacturer. Although I enjoyed each role, I found myself getting bored and feeling suffocated by the 9-5 office life. I yearned for the freedom, creativity and challenge of owning my own creative business.

HOW IT ALL STARTED: 

While out of work during the first lockdown in March 2020 my (incredibly talented and creative) mother sent me a watercolour paint set she had laying around at home to keep me occupied. I had never used watercolour before so I jumped on Skillshare and became determined to master the unpredictable medium. I LOVED it!

I began sharing my creations on Instagram, trying out various styles from painting watercolour roses to portraits. I couldn’t believe when friends and family started ordering custom paintings, and was completely shocked when I got my first order from a complete stranger. I tried my best to play it cool and professional!

I started teaching myself Adobe Photoshop and invested in a printer which enabled me (after ALOT of trial and error) to sell high quality prints of my original work. Orders for personal commissions and corporate gifts started to gain momentum. I was juggling this with my full-time job for 12 months. 6am painting sessions before work and building my brand and website late in the evenings. It was intense but I thrived off it, I never saw it as 'work', I loved building my own business, painting and creating sentimental artwork for my customers.

HOW ITS GOING

I became a self-employed artist in September 2021 and haven't looked back. I've been blessed with amazing and loyal customers and supportive friends and family who continue to encourage me and make it possible to create the business I've dreamed of.  Creating art is what makes me happy, and I strive to deliver that happiness to my customers by giving every single painting 100% of my attention and care in the hopes of it bringing a smile every time its viewed.

 

OUTSIDE THE STUDIO
When I’m not running my business or painting I love travelling, hiking, wild water swimming, gymming, discovering new coffee shops, spending time with family, running and exploring with my boyfriend in our renovated VW T2 ‘Monty’. I’m a big fan of practising gratitude and read endless books on building a positive mindset and manifesting my dreams into a reality.

Join me on Instagram @rachelleahystudio for day to day updates on my life and business, say hi if you drop by :)