A HAMPSHIRE illustrator is helping families stay connected this Christmas with her personalised creations.

Emily Powell, of Thomkat Illustrations, has seen her new business grow in 2020 as customers enjoy her personal approach to gift giving.

Emily works for the NHS but has always had a talent for drawing, a skill that has developed into her dream of working as an illustrator from her home near Eastleigh.

After years of creating artwork for family and friends, she has turned her passion into a business.

Emily said: “I’ve seen and heard so many stories of people struggling because of the pandemic, and we all want to stay connected to each other and provide emotional support.

“There’s no doubt that Christmas is going to be different this year, so I wanted to create a way that we can still share special moments with our friends and loved ones.

“Customers are coming to me to help create something that helps them stay in touch with people during some incredibly challenging times, and it’s wonderful to be a part of that.”

Her latest offering is a personalised family portrait that can be sent to family and friends with glad Christmas tidings, as a way to say how much people are loved and missed at a time when they might ordinarily be able to get together.

Emily is helping to create family memories in a beautiful hand drawn image to be treasured forever.

She added: “With all the turmoil of 2020 and now another lockdown, people have been apart from their families and loved ones for long periods of time, and we are all trying to find ways to stay connected. I wanted to do something special for Christmas that reaches through restrictions, a way of showing how much we care and that in some small way, we can still be together in spirit. I’m helping people do that by creating illustrated family Christmas cards and Christmas video messages. You can tell the people in your life how important they are, even if you can’t actually see them in person this year for festive celebrations as you’d want to.

“Drawing makes my heart and soul sing. It’s the joy and connection that my work brings to my customers that gives me a sense of purpose and excitement.”

You can see more of Emily’s work and order your special Christmas creation at thomkatillustrations.co.uk/

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