Indie Oxford Stories: Lorraine Berkshire-Roe Artist & Illustrator

How would you describe your business in a sentence?

First and foremost, I am an illustrator. I also teach sketchbook journaling workshops.

What first inspired you to start your business – was there a lightbulb moment?

I worked as an illustrator in a design company for 9 years, and when I was made redundant in 2005, I became a freelance illustrator while also doing part-time work. I then had my daughter, and when she went to school, I stopped all commercial work to concentrate on bringing her up, as it was too difficult to juggle child care and also fulfil short deadlines and the late nights required for that were not possible. I became a teaching assistant at her school in 2016.

In that time, I still continued my sketchbooks, made crazy paper cache animals to sell at the London Affordable Art fair and did one or two Christmas fairs a year. About 4 years ago, I realised I really, really missed illustrating. I knew I wanted to get back into it, but felt a bit lost as to where to start.

How did you actually get started?

While still working as a teaching assistant, I decided to do the Inktober prompt drawing challenge in 2022, where you are given 31 one word prompts and do a drawing a day, every day in October. Despite not really having the time I just realised that I had to do something to build up a new body of work and get back into the habit. I spent about 1 and a half years making an illustration a week for the Inktober52 prompt drawing challenge, which gave me real structure and discipline. I also did the whole month challenge again in October 2023

My job in education was becoming more stressful and I was starting to realise it was time to make the move. I handed my notice in at the end of the school year in 2024, it felt scary but exciting. I did start looking for a part time job at first, as a safety net, but it didn’t work out and I’m really glad that I had it didn’t.

I remember sitting in my art shed at the start of September 2024 and it felt like a completely new chapter, just me, my pen and the chance to really give it a go and see what I could achieve.

What felt most daunting about starting out, and how did you overcome it?

I felt ready when it came to my work, having built my confidence over the previous couple of years, but it felt exciting and scary, leaving employment. I have never been totally self-employed before, I always had a job or a part time job while freelancing. I was afraid of being on my own, without work colleagues, I love working as a team and making connections and I was worried that I would not enjoy being on my own so much.

I have a very good friend, who lives in France who had set her pottery studio up a year before I set off on my self-employment journey. Her example and some of her advice was inspiring. She told me to network and make as many connections as possible and that you just do what needs to be done when you are thrown in the deep end. I am so glad that I dived in, because that is so true.

Very soon after leaving my teaching assistant job, I joined Independent Oxford, which has been perfect for me, to have a support network and feel that I am in this with some sort of safety net of amazing people who are doing the same thing as me.

I also did a lot of art markets, getting to know fellow creators and customers. The local ones in Oxford have been great for building a support network, creatives, traders and customers, some of whom have become friends. I have met so many people from doing these. I had a stall at Gloucester Green Market nearly every Friday from Sept 2024 to December 2025 and this was great for getting myself know, especially for my workshops. Networking works!

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

My biggest challenge so far has been making time for actually doing the creative work and I also find it hard to work in my home sometimes. There are such a lot of things to do as a self employed person, being a real one man band.

I have realised that it takes time to get all the back of house stuff done and it can’t be avoided. I am learning way to make it easier, going to different places where I can focus on a task, or finding a chunk of time for the creative work, which sometimes means taking myself away for a couple of days when I need some proper thinking time.

Asking for advice and help, talking to other self employed people makes it feel less daunting and I have picked up so much useful advice.

What has been your proudest moment?

My proudest moment, is realising that I can do this. Through being a bit brave, having a go and really working hard for about 4 years on my drawing skills and developing my own style, I have a level of confidence in my work that I have never had before. I am really proud that I just made that leap, listening to my inner voice (and all the people who kept telling me I could do it.)

What is the biggest lesson you have learned about running a business?

That if you find what it is you really want to do, you are unstoppable! You have to do the things that cannot be avoided, you have to accept that there will never stop being learning curves, and that if you feel overwhelmed or don’t know what to do, you will find a way if you want to do it enough. You have to make connections, find your tribe, it’s almost impossible to do it all alone. Find those people who know what it’s like. And try to have a rest every now and then.

What’s next for you and the business? 

My illustration work is going well, I have commissions coming in and this is the main thing that I love and want to develop. I would love to do more book illustration, I do have some of my own work that I am working on, and will be self-publishing in the near future.

I also have developed a series of sketchbook journal workshops, which I have been running for nearly a year now at the Cluster co-working space. I am planning some slightly different workshops, on different techniques and maybe a regular sketchbook journal surgery.

I love art markets and fairs as that is where I meet so many interesting people, so I will continue with these, but maybe not quite so many (I have been doing a lot of them!)

How can people support you right now?

Follow me on my socials, commission me for illustration, come and see me at fairs, come and see me at my Oxfordshire Artweeks exhibition in May 2026 (venue 473), book one of my workshops and if you like my work, just keep in contact.

What is your favourite thing about running a business in Oxfordshire?

It’s a great part of the country, so central, near London and there are a lot of opportunities. There is Independent Oxford, which is for business all over Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Artweeks, and so many lovely people around. I feel Oxford is a great fit for me as there is so much history, so many different people living here and passing through, it’s inspiring.

Who in the Independent Oxford community inspires you?

Well, it has to be Kevin Jessup, chief Clustodian of The Cluster Co-Working Space in Summertown. I met him at one of his Cluster Craft fairs just after I had started being self-employed and not long after the Cluster opened its doors.

He’s been so encouraging, and such a positive presence, his help and support has made such a difference to me, finding a like mind and someone to bounce ideas back and forth with. He commissioned an illustration from me not long after we met, which is hung up inside the Cluster and it has been such a great calling card for me.

He has such boundless enthusiasm for what he does, I’ve learned so much about collaboration and connection from watching him – you should spend some time at the Cluster to see him in action!

He’s a great friend, makes a lovely cup of tea and he loves my work. Priceless.

What does being part of the Independent Oxford community mean to you?

It’s been brilliant. I love the WhatsApp groups, the sharing of information, call-outs for info, meet-ups, getting to meet people in all sorts of businesses. It has made me feel like I am not alone, and that there is always someone on there that will try to help, people I already know and people who I am going to get to know. It’s also good to be able to help and support other people if I can, and collaborating.