From Paint-Splattered Beginnings to Pinch-Me Moments: My Unexpected Creative Journey So Far...
If you’d have told me years ago—back when I was just painting at the kitchen table between toddler naps and dog walks—that one day my artwork would travel further than I ever could, I’d have laughed and carried on rinsing my brushes.
But here we are.
And somehow, through a mix of stubbornness, creativity, community, and “well… let’s just try it,” I’ve gathered a collection of pinch-me moments I never imagined I’d say out loud.
So today, I’m claiming them.
Not loudly.
Not boastfully.
But with the quiet pride of someone who finally realises just how far she’s come.
Supplying Ceramics to Warner Bros Studios
Yes. That Warner Bros.
The place where worlds are built and imagination rules the room.
Somehow, little hand-painted creations from The Wild Fig & Fern made their way there—not because I shouted the loudest, but because creativity has a funny way of taking you places when you simply keep showing up.
It’s surreal, magical, and still feels like a secret I’m not fully convinced belongs to me.
My Art Lives at West Lodge Farm Park
One of my happiest places growing up—and now my artwork lives there too.
Walking in and seeing my paintings on their walls (and in their shop!) never gets old.
There’s something grounding about creating for a place that means something to local families, children, and visitors. It’s like my art grew roots.
Smallville's Walls Painted by Me.
If you’ve ever wandered through Smallville and spotted a splash of colour, a cheeky animal face, or something that made you smile—there’s a good chance my paintbrush had something to do with it.
Bringing that tiny world to life was one of those “say yes and figure it out as you go” projects… and honestly? Those are my favourite kind.
The Electrical Boxes of Market Harborough
I’ll always love this one—because it wasn’t about me.
It was about community.
A group of volunteers (including me!) grabbed paint, brushes, and a shared belief that small acts of creativity make towns feel more alive.
Now, hidden in plain sight across Market Harborough, are little pockets of colour that brighten someone’s day—and I got to play a small part in that.
Three Books Published
And not a single one written because I felt “qualified.”
Every book was born from heart, chaos, creativity, and a desire to help—in ways only art and stories can. you can find them all on Amazon
- "Your Little Book Of Dog Training" - JJ Barrs - https://amzn.eu/d/ekyXkFl
- "An Amazing First Day" - JJ Barrs - https://amzn.eu/d/fJNLjk4
- "Space Burt & Friends In Amazing Places" - JJ Barrs - https://amzn.eu/d/h7T7EHc
Each one represents a different chapter of my life, and somehow they’ve found their way into the hands and homes of people who needed them. That still blows me away.
Two Awards… and a Whole Lot of Gratitude
Awards were never the goal.
They were never even on the list.
But somehow, I’ve collected two—including Art School of the Year.
Seeing my tiny, paint-splashed corner of the world recognised in that way? It felt like the universe nudging me and whispering,
“See? You were on the right path all along.”
Hand-Building a Shop From Nothing (Even When Life Got… Complicated)
The Wild Fig & Fern didn’t arrive fully formed.
It wasn’t funded by deep pockets, business grants, or a clean, obstacle-free path.
It was hand-built.
By me & my family.
Piece by piece.
Brick by metaphorical brick.
All while navigating challenges that weren’t mentioned on any to-do list — the kind of challenges that wear your edges down and make you question everything.
The kind that force you to grow a thicker skin without losing your softness.
There were days I was building shelves and displays with tear-stained cheeks.
Days I had to smile at customers while quietly carrying things I couldn’t say out loud.
Days when it would have been easier to walk away, all caused by another person...
But I didn’t.
I kept building.
I kept creating.
I kept choosing kindness even when it wasn’t returned.
And somehow, through grit, love, and the stubborn belief that creativity deserves a home, The Wild Fig & Fern came to life — a shop built not just with wood and paint, but with resilience I never expected to need.
Now when people walk in and say, “It’s beautiful here,”
I smile.
Because they’re seeing the result but its not the finished thing.... oh no... i have many plans yet to come,
but they’ll never know the storms that shaped it all.
Why I’m Sharing This Now
I’m sharing this not because I need a round of applause…
but because I know what it feels like to build quietly, to go unnoticed, to wonder if any of it matters.
It does.
Your steps matter.
Your small beginnings matter.
Your quiet wins matter.
And sometimes you have to pause and actually name them—to realise you’ve built something real, something meaningful, something that deserves space.
This is me doing exactly that.
This is me honouring every brushstroke, every risk, every wobble, every leap of faith.
And this is me saying thank you—to everyone who’s walked with me, cheered me on, or believed in me before I believed in myself.
Here’s to many more beautiful, unexpected chapters.
The kind you only reach by daring to start.
