Imagine if being your own boss meant sleeping in until 10am, doing a bit of drawing, and clocking off at 3pm. That does happen sometimes. But mostly, running a solo creative business is far more than a full-time job. I’m Gail. I’m a surface pattern designer and illustrator. I work from my studio in Manchester, creating bold, colourful designs that I sell as greeting cards, art prints, homewares and clothing.

Some buildings fade into the background. Others get your attention. The Toast Rack certainly gets your attention. Officially called the Hollings Building, it’s located on Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield, Manchester.

What the heck is surface pattern design? This is a question I get asked a lot.