Welcome to Naomi's World

It all started with the idea of an online portfolio; somewhere I could direct clients to, to show them examples of my work. I've built up a really varied range of skills over the years, from studying Art at school, Fashion at Uni, then taking freelance projects in illustration, graphic design, and branding, not to mention retouching, and later on animation! Oh and did I mention I'm also a DJ?!

So the challenge then: how to creatively and beautifully display my skills and talents in one place, and draw people in, and make a charming yet memorable impact!

Well obviously it had to be hand-drawn, in my playful pen and paper style I’ve developed over the years, with layers of vector colour bringing it to life. The initial ideas began with a sketch on my sister's kitchen worktop, brainstorming together one afternoon. We chatted about creating an illustration of a room, with various elements representing each facet of my portfolio; a TV to direct the viewer to my animations, a picture on the wall to represent my illustrations. All clickable, ready to explore. I still have the rough sketches.

But over time this concept grew and gradually unfolded into the idea of a street. A cinema to house the animations, an art gallery to display my illustrations, along with various shops and a cafe. I had no idea if I could even build this myself but I figured there would be a way, and so I set about sketching.

It only took about four years(!) of starting, giving up, redesigning, tearing up, scribbling, doubting myself, second guessing, starting over and over, before I actually settled on the line-up of buildings you see today. Finally I stopped agonising over making it perfect, and just decided to go for it. I concluded it would probably evolve over time anyway.

When building the website, putting the General Store page together, I fell in love with the idea that people could “visit” Naomi’s World, and “take home a souvenir” in real life, by shopping illustrated products. This idea then flourished into something more advanced.

What I thought I’d finished, as my online portfolio, was actually only just the beginning. The concept started to unfold in my head with more ideas of how this could grow beyond just a means of displaying my work for clients, and become an imaginary, animated world, ever expanding across my Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Etsy shop.

It’s now become an obsession and a fun, creative dream. I spend hours absorbed in animating and sketching, constantly inventing new ideas. I’m passionate about crafting everything by hand on paper with pencil, pen, and some watercolour paint, (plus obviously using computer programs to animate etc), in order to be a very obviously human. With imperfections and rough and wonky lines, in a world where AI is everywhere seemingly replicating every creative idea humanity has ever had, the authentic detail, craft and vision are championed here.

I’m excited about the breadth of ideas bubbling out of Naomi’s World, and look forward to building and sharing them.