Ebony Newton Design is a wonderful freelance graphic designer, specialising in gifting and greetings design here in the North East.
She’s brought us many incredible designs over the years from mugs, notebooks, prints galore and we’re so grateful to be able to work with such a talented artist.
From the early age of 9 years old, Ebony had a growing passion for art and design. Thinking she wanted to be an interior designer, thanks to the TV series ‘Changing Rooms’, she would often find herself doing mini projects in her bedroom (much to her parent’s horror). “The idea that creativity was an expression of thoughts inside our heads was exciting. It was clear that leaving school with top grades in art and graphics, this passion wasn't gonna go to bed until I explored it.”
She went on to study design at college and worked towards a BTEC National Diploma in Design and an A level in Photography. Once Ebony found her niche, she was able to get herself a BH (Hons) Degree in Graphic Design at university.
Ebony describes that her style had always been quite bold and graphic, mixed with some fluid styles of hand lettering. Her passion for hand lettering grew from a trend which started becoming more mainstream in around 2008 onwards. Influenced by artists such as Seb Lester, Jessica Hische, Linzie Hunter and Mike Perry she eventually discovered her own personal style. “But my range of geordie inspired gifts came from my husband's loyalties to Newcastle United. My 'Geordie Boot Boys' print was first created as a gift for him, which became the foundation to a much bigger collection which I now sell across the North East.”
As a local creative, Ebony has expressed how proud it makes her seeing her work stocked locally in some awesome North East based, independent businesses. “I sit amongst some crazy talented artists, and the community spirit around it feels like we are one big creative family.” And when asked what her favourite project has been so far, she said that being a part of the NHS charity print was most certainly her favourite simply because of its purpose and meaning during a time of such adversity.
We’ve been very fortunate to collaborate with Ebony over the years on so many fun projects, but she has expressed that she’s changed as a person in recent years which may change the course of what she wants to produce with us in the future: “I have connected a lot with the nature and landscape we are so fortunate to have in Northumberland, to help me gain some much needed peace in my very busy life. I love the idea of exploring products which celebrate the beauty of our coastal region and the benefit they can have to our mental health. There's so much magic at the beach...especially at sunrise.”
We're often asked for our 'Tourist Tip' about where to go in our wonderful region so I thought I'd turn the tables and asked Ebony what her ultimate tourist tip is and this is what she said: “Oooh with the festive season looming, my tourist tip would be that if you're visiting Newcastle in the run up to Christmas, you MUST visit Fenwicks window. Every year their interactive themed window is such a wonderful experience, and a huge part and tradition of a North East Christmas. The fuzzy feeling I get when visiting the window with my children takes me back to nostalgia of my own childhood.” Honestly, I couldn’t agree more, I can’t wait to see the new window this year!
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