Sophie Ashley

Sophie’s decision to study textiles was driven by her desire to expand her creative skills and delve deeper into industries she was passionate about.

Sophie says her favourite thing about her course was the freedom she had to learn and try different techniques. ‘I also loved learning alongside other artistic peers. Being alongside other people with different skills and perspectives fed my own growth and development’.

During this time Sophie discovered her love for embroidery and embellishment, which helped her during the pandemic when she faced redundancy and turned to her creative talents to generate income.

Today, Sophie works in marketing, which she feels was a natural progression of her creative skills. She says, ‘My current career sits in the marketing space, which is not as ‘out of the blue’ as you may think. Throughout my early studies in art and design, it became very apparent that I had a very natural ability and skillset that would suit marketing, branding, and identity’.

Sophie’s creative studies have provided her with a unique approach to problem-solving, which she believes has been invaluable in her marketing career. ‘To me, my degree equipped me with a very different way of thinking, approaching problems and finding solutions. Because of my creative skillset, I am able to get creative when problem solving, which has been useful in my career so far’.

Sophie’s decision to pursue a career outside of her academic background was guided by her instincts and the advice of those she respected. A pivotal moment came when a family friend with experience in branding and marketing reviewed Sophie’s portfolio and saw she had a natural talent for marketing, so she encouraged Sophie to pursue it.

Sophie’s advice

For current and future creative arts students who are unsure about their next steps, Sophie’s advice is ‘Trust the process, trust your gut, and trust yourself. While it’s important to have a plan and goals, it’s equally important not to be discouraged if things don’t go as expected’. Sophie firmly believes that what’s meant for you won’t pass you by, and that rejection is often just redirection. Rather than dwelling on missed opportunities, she encourages others to look forward to the next one. 

Finally, Sophie emphasizes the importance of living in the moment. ‘Travel, make memories and enjoy where you are now. In a few years, you might find yourself wishing to return to this time, so savour every bit of it’.