Really Good

Where is home?
Wherever I lay my hat. I count myself lucky that I can feel at home pretty much anywhere, especially if you give me a pair of slippers (slippers are seriously underrated footwear). At the moment I spend most of my weeks in the lovely Bristol and most of my weekends in the also lovely Dorset.

What do you want to solve in life?
You mean apart from why we’re all here and where we go afterwards, ending world hunger/poverty, protecting the planet from the impending doom of man-induced climate change, working out how to spread universal happiness and love and ensuring the continued biodiversity of the planet? Well…I’d like to finally draw up my definitive top three vegetables list. I mean….parsnips or spinach? And what about peas? *sigh* there’s just no obvious answer.

How do I relax
The truth is, I don’t. Mentally I mean. It’s a blessing and a curse but my mind is so crowded with ideas and things to do and things to look forward that I find it very difficult to hit the metaphorical off switch – the only ways I know to tune out some of the noise is to run, surf, or stroke a dog (usually my boyfriend’s dog, Elvis, but passing dogs in the street are also OK). I also have a guilty pleasure of occasional afternoon naps. Unconsciousness can be a refuge.

Favourite smell?
The sweet smell of success. Just kidding. I’d probably go for some of the usuals – fresh cut grass, baby’s heads etc.(as opposed to fresh cut babies and grass heads). There are a few others though - like burnt toast. Generally the best smells are ones which remind you of a happy time or a place – ones where you’re right back there the moment you catch a whiff.

Red or White
Pink with bubbles

Who influences you?
EVERYONE! Particularly my friends and family. I’m constantly inspired by something one of them is saying and doing. I’m lucky to have a life filled with lovely people. Goodness knows what they’re doing hanging around me mind you. I’m also really inspired by anyone who makes me laugh – authors, illustrators, film-makers, comedians. It doesn’t pay to take life too seriously. The important thing about being truly creative is making yourself an insatiable sponge for life…take everything in…and then see what comes out!

What are you surrounded by?
Paper. Paper. And more paper. I just don’t know where it comes from. One day they will find me buried in a pile of it. There’s probably some groundbreaking ideas in there somewhere…if only I could find them.


Biggest weakness?
Oh well, I’ve been told it’s a weakness (or was that weirdness?), but I prefer to see it as a strength: I’m a sucker for a good power ballad. (My theory is that io is everyone else – they’re just less honest about it. You see, surprisingly, it can carry social stigma).

Are you happy?
Yes. Happiness is something you can create. It really is. All you have to do is look on the Brightside.

Where do you do your best thinking?
I’m still trying to figure this out. I find generally it’s just ‘somewhere else’ – i.e.not at home or in my studio (those places are for doing). Being by the sea is in my soul so this often triggers ideas and I often do a lot of thinking when I’m running too or on trains – it seems I need to movement to have ideas. It can be most inconvenient.

What’s your favourite card you’ve done?
I’d have to say ‘you make my heart go boom’ – because it was the first one I ever made. Little did I know then the amazing journey it would take me on…..

Favourite biscuit?
Anything that holds up to a good dunking.
Except not garibaldi (euuurggggh) or ginger snaps (the devil’s biscuit).

What were you like at school?
Have you been talking to my arch nemesis?! Truth be told I was a bit of a geek – I had harry-potteresque glasses and I always got my homework done on time. I was even headgirl at one point. I think the power went to my head though. I was an overachiever because I was on scholarship so had a lot to live up to. Still, I have to say I wouldn’t do anything differently – it’s partly what’s got me where I am.

Snow or sun?
A bit of both please. But I must say a lovely bit of dapply warm sunshine is life itself.

As well as cards and gifts, you write children’s books and do advertising copy too. What gives you most pleasure?
I’m not sure I know. I think the thing that gives me pleasure is the combination of all three - having such a mad mix of things to do – I get something different from all them. Unintentionally it fulfils most of the facets of my personality – advertising is a quick hit of creativity – everything is tight deadlines and adrenalin fuelled ‘will I get a good idea?’ moments – a sort of short-term high. Creating the cards and the gifts is just the best thing ever – it’s fantastic seeing thoughts in your head become a tangible reality – and I love the fact it’s a job based around people being nice to each other. I have to wait a while to see the actual finished product so I get a nice bit of anticipation from that – a kind of middle-term lovliness. And the books? Well they are a real long-term labour of love – a life-long passion. I put a lot in and ultimately get a lot out of it. It takes me the best part of a year from the point of having an idea to seeing it as the finished book – so it you learn the art of patience that’s for sure – but when you see it for the first time – well there’s no feeling like it.

That was a very long answer to a short question.

Who killed Roger Rabbit?
Roger Rabbits dead?

If you won the lottery?
I love this question. I have always tried to ask myself this very thing as often as possible to remind me what life is really about. Whatever the answer is – and it varies depending on where I’m at – for example recently it’s been, ‘build a little house and studio by the sea, go surfing every day and invite everyone I love to come and stay’. And then as soon as I’ve got my answer I tell myself, ‘right, well I haven’t won the lottery but lets find a way of doing it anyway’.

I think it’s a trap to assume your dreams will only come true if you come into loads of money. You should never let spondooliks be the insurmountable barrier to doing what you want – especially when you examine what really makes you happy. It’s usually the simple things – spending time with the people you love doing lovely things. When you realise that, you can find ways around it. Money = time, and if you can somehow find time without the money, you’ve truly mastered life. And then you can have whatever you want.*

*Rachel reserves the right to build a giant Olympic swimming pool lined with gold and diamonds behind her 42 bedroom mansion which has her face painted on the front, should she actually win the lottery.

What pisses you off?
I’m not sure anything really pisses me off that much really. I’m racking my brains…. I do get a bit grumpy with grumpy people. But then that’s a bit counter productive isn’t it?

Oh… I’ve thought of something: it’s our torturously slow reaction to the impending disasters of climate change and our blind destruction of the natural world. Summed up as general selfishness – both on an individual level and and as a species. Aha yes, and also.. I can’t STAND it when restaurants put rice in a shape. I can’t even look at it. I mean why do it? Rice.Is.Designed.to.be.loose.STOP IT RESTAURANTS.

Also roundabouts shouldn’t have names.

There we go, you made me rant.

Is there a tune in your head?
Oh, many, many tunes. One day it could be lady in red (admit it, you love it) one day it could be a nice bit of Phil Collins (‘how can I just watch you walk away?.....air grab….). I draw the line at meatloaf though*

*I actually have quite eclectic music tastes, I merely find power ballads the most rousing

Tell us a secret?
Half the time I’m winging it.

What would be an alternative career?
Natural history filmmaker, surf instructor person or Olympic ultra-runner. I’ve also always quite fancied being a mills and boon novelist or having my own little restaurant / café by the sea. I might still try and do all of these things mind you. I’ve still got a few decades to squeeze it in.

Finally, any interesting plans for the future?
So many plans I hardly know where to start. Many are safely tucked up in my ‘evil plans and stuff notebook’. We’re doing a whole pile of exciting stuff with the Brightside – so many ideas – the homewares range is expanding and we’ll have lots of new wedding and baby things too, as well as a range of books. My second picture book, ‘My sister’s an alien’ is published by Puffin in July and I’m working on my third one as we speak. Also, I must have at least 20 more books in varying stages of development that I’d like to get out in the world. I’m also working on some TV ideas with various companies – both animation and a mix of live action and animation. I’ll shortly be blogging about all my exploits on my website www.lookonthebrightside.co.uk if you’re that way inclined. On a personal front I’m also making progress on that dream of a little house and studio by the sea……

Last Updated: February 19, 2010