A bit about me!

As I am starting a new Blog I will start with a little bit about me!

I am a Textile/Fashion Designer and Illustrator. I had a love of art and design from a young age loving my drawing and painting and knowing I wanted to follow that direction from around age 8yrs. At school I loved my Art lessons and slowly specialised into the Fashion and Textile area as I went through Art College doing my general Art and Design at Southport College of Art.

I then went on to study Textile Design at Huddersfield University where I specialised in Print Design for Fashion after also working on woven and knitted textile projects. I still loved to incorporate fashion Illustration on my final presentation boards and this is still a strong love today.

After gaining my degree with honours in Textile Design I headed for the bright lights of London where after a little time I managed to get to do work experience for the well known Designer Zandra Rhodes, this led on to a full time position as Textile Designer then Head Textile Designer as I was working there for 11 Years.

In my time working at Zandra Rhodes I worked on the printed textile designs for the in house collections,
Handpainted Textile Designs, opera and ballet costume designs, interior designs, high street collaboration with the likes of Topshop. I also worked with student placements and interns which was great fun. It was a great creative environment to work in and I learnt an awful lot from my time working alongside Zandra .

After working at Zandra Rhode I relocated to Liverpool where I did business courses and managed to get some funding to start up my business Tara Smiley Designs. I designed a feminine mix of designs for Brides and Bridesmaids with accessories such as Handpainted silk capelets, ornamental pretty hair accessories, tiaras, bags and jewellery. I exhibited at Harrogate Bridal Exhibition and The Uk Wedding Show at St Georges hall Liverpool. This was an exciting and challenging time and venture. ( I will add some photos in blogs to come.)

I also exhibited artwork of Canvases and Watecolours at Portland hall Spa Southport which was another great project and my inspiration was flowers, nature and fashion illustration.

So now I have relocated back to the bustling city of London looking for work and inspiration within Fashion/Textiles and Illustration area or another creative area I could use my skills in..

I am always being inspired by all things creative so I hope to incorporate all sorts of fun and inspirational things in my blog as well as Fashion, Textiles I will be looking at food,travel, beauty and general lifestyle, creative, girly,  feel good stuff . So I hope you will enjoy the blogs to come and find some joy and inspiration from them! x