Having spent many years as an in-house designer at Hallmark, Mikki Butterley knows a thing or two about designing greeting cards. She can turn her hand to any style, although she confesses watercolour has always been a favourite medium.
Tell us more about who you are and what you do?
The majority of my working life has been spent with Hallmark Cards – freelance at first and then as an in-house senior artist. Five years ago I decided on a lifestyle shift – less travelling, more variety of work.
I love being freelance and although I still do lots of greeting card work, I have now illustrated many books too. My first book commission was to illustrate the Bible, which was a great start! and Winnie the Pooh has also been a favourite.
How do you like to create, what’s your favourite medium to use and your normal working method?
I don’t have a specific art style. At Hallmark we were expected to be able to work in a variety of styles and medium which suited me fine. Watercolour was always a favourite , but nowadays I love the challenge of taking my hand drawn styles and manipulating them in photoshop.
a recent Instagram challenge to paint a named bird every day!
Probably an impossible question, but what is the most favourite card design you have created in recent years?
The collage is a favourite style, the image below you is a selection of samples which were best sellers for Oxfam and have recently been used for a calendar.
The Jack Russell was such a quick sketch, but became a best seller for Hallmark and the wren was an attempt at producing a linocut style digitally in photoshop, which I loved and became a best seller for Oxfam too.
Finally what would be your dream card brief / project?
My dream greeting card job would be a range of cards in a style that I could develop to include prints, calendars and many other licensing opportunities.
Want to see or know more …
Want to view more examples of Mikki’s work, then take a look at her Instagram page
Mikki is available for freelance commissions, she can be contacted on
