Hofficraft is a small Independent illustration business based in Abingdon Oxfordshire set up and run by me, Manda Hartley.
I run the business part time from home with help from my husband and my cat Bella both of whom are key members of the team!
I also work for Oxford Uni doing something entirely unrelated to illustration!
I grew up in the small Welsh market town of Cowbridge and my creative background is in Graphic Design, however working in that industry sucked the creative life out of me so I started creating illustrations that connect and resonate with people instead.
My work is inspired by my life experiences as a cat loving gin drinking introvert!
All of my work starts out in a good old fashioned sketchbook before being worked up digitally on an ipad pro. I love trying out new techniques and experimenting with different ways to bring my illustrations to life.
Most of my printing is done at home on a trusty ink jet printer, I also use a sublimation printer for heat pressing my coasters and mugs!
Hofficraft began at my kitchen table in 2014 with a sketch book and a packet of shrink plastic. I started to sell my work online and at local markets and to my delight my work and ideas were not only well received but they also made people laugh out loud and smile which is something that I never expected!
My illustrations are very observational and link strongly with my experiences, surroundings and thoughts, perhaps this is why so many people connect and identify with my work.
Sketching and creating products that resonate with people is something that I feel really passionate about, I love the idea that one of my illustrations might inspire, motivate or cheer someone up.
The business has grown over the years, and I have graduated from the kitchen table to my own little studio at the bottom of the garden in front of the vegetable patch, which we call the Hoffice
(Hoffi means like in Welsh, in case you were curious)
My range of products is constantly expanding as the business grows and I enjoy learning new skills and techniques to broaden my ranges.
I sell through Folksy and Etsy and can usually be found at various local Oxfordshire events (when there is not a pandemic)
You can also find my work locally in the Oxford Etsy Concept store over in Didcot, The Shop in Witney and Nothing in the Covered Market in Oxford.
Here are a few facts about me!
• I am very fond of jelly and custard.
• I have a fear of mayonnaise.
• My cat thinks I am hilarious and laughs at all my jokes.
• My earliest memory is sieving the fruity bits out of a yogurt because they made me gag.
• I have an autoimmune condition called Ankylosing Spondylitits this is an inflammatory condition that effects the spine and other joints in the body.....this is why you might find me clutching my back at markets with a hot water bottle down my trousers!
• I don't like shouting and loud noises or too many noises all at once.
• I am Welsh and proud.
• I really like silence, however my mind is rarely silent.
