Did I always think I’d have a creative studio? No. Did I get inspired by every agency I worked at? Absolutely.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was fed up with Excel sheets and the serious business world. Don’t get me wrong—business is valuable, essential even. But I was probably on the “wrong” path for about ten years. At least.

(Hint: there’s much more on this in my upcoming book! If you’re interested in becoming an early reader, sign up here for sneak peeks before it hits the shelves.)

After a move back to London (my third, I think!), life had thrown me a few curveballs. Imagine this: highly qualified, shiny master’s degrees, six languages, big dreams…and the reality of waiting tables at events. (And let’s be honest, I was pretty terrible at it!) It wasn’t the start to adult life I’d imagined. Fast forward through plenty of resilience—and quite a lot of “Sisu” (that Finnish grit and determination)—I finally got my break. I’d landed a foot in the door of a creative UX agency, crafting digital experiences for amazing clients.

The agency dream

It was 2012, and I was ready to dive in headfirst. I took every opportunity that came my way, even if it meant managing 21 projects at once. I was in love with the agency world. Over the years, I worked in agencies of every size—from intimate teams of 10 to global giants of 3,000. What I loved most was the energy, the constant buzz. Sometimes it was a little frantic—tight client deadlines, last-minute content, or the creative director running late. But the blend of difficult and wonderful clients and the camaraderie with the crew made it all so worth it.

Working in an agency was more than just a job; it felt like family. It wasn’t just work—it was an extension of my creative self, and together we felt unstoppable. Picture bean bags, Lego sculptures, quirky artifacts, and the most creative people you could imagine. Agencies are often like playgrounds for adults, where smart minds have turned play and fun into real value and, surprisingly, important work for clients.

Sure, sometimes agency life comes with its own controversies and fluff. But often, it’s simply because the outside world can’t always understand the magic within. Agency life had this vibrant, creative pulse. There was always something happening—coffee brewing, passion projects in the works, a dog wandering the hall, someone’s bicycle in the hallway. It was a dream lifestyle, a place where creativity was alive in every corner.

The first studio

When I first moved to South Africa, I was still in the corporate world. Fortunately, I managed to keep some cherished client relationships going, which carried us through and out of the COVID era. Online work had its perks—though sometimes it left me with a bit too much on my plate. When we moved to Plettenberg Bay, we dreamed of farm life, we mostly stayed at farms hopping around before we found our dream spot. However, no one warned me about the drastic internet downgrade—from 200 Mbps to a mere 4 Mbps. The installation guys got creative, drilling holes and setting up rooftop dishes like something out of a 1980s movie. After years of digital nomading, holding corporate workshops in noisy cafés, and squeezing into every uncomfortable seat imaginable, I’d had enough. That’s when I decided to find my first studio space.

Nestled between real estate agents, the studio wasn’t exactly glamorous, but I scored a great COVID price, and—best of all—it had fiber! I could finally work without interruptions. The cherry on top? I could paint the walls any way I wanted! I ordered a stunning Emma J Shipley wallpaper from the UK via Sweden, forgetting momentarily about the whole Brexit situation. I probably ended up paying triple custom tax on that one, but it was totally worth it.

I couldn’t settle on just one color scheme, so one room ended up with three shades of green, while another went bold with pink, purple, and coral, paired with the magical lynx wallpaper. I was ecstatic.

In those early days before my art journey took off, the studio became a very colorful Reiki treatment room (yes, I’m a Level 2 Reiki practitioner, don’t really offer it now though) and a workshop for my skincare and bath salts. Creating and experimenting in that colorful space was pure joy. Sometimes I think about bringing back my old skincare line, Wild Woman’s Choice… So many ideas, so little time!

IKU Studio, my creative haven

Another farm dream took root, and we decided to move far out to a wild protea farm, bringing the horses along with us. The studio came, too, with hopes of running everything from one place. For almost two years, we made it work—though the internet was almost non-existent! It was a time filled with horse rides, sunrises, and endless batches of bath salts. But creative work? Not so much. And it wasn’t great for business. Turns out, trees are fantastic for our health, but not so ideal for staying connected to communities. Living so far out, we became nearly isolated from our friends and networks. Driving 25km on a very bad dirt road every day which finally broke our car.

Long story short (or perhaps not so short), after the second winter, I put my foot down. We couldn’t keep living a double life like this, split between dreams and practical needs. So, we made the bold decision to move back to town, away from the farm, to focus on our businesses. Moving two adults, two horses, and now three dogs takes a whole lot of courage and creativity! Our little family had even grown to seven by then.

That’s when the search began for a new studio space! We’ve now been in this precious spot for a year and a half, and I couldn’t be happier. Over time, we’ve painted, revamped, and reimagined the space. It’s been a coworking hub, a place for art and drawing classes, a yoga studio, an art club, and, most importantly, a creative haven. Today, it’s an art gallery and a gathering place for arty friends—a space where my creative vision can thrive. Two exhibitions later, IKU Studio truly feels like home.

We’ve got exciting plans ahead. The IKU Shop will be restocked soon with precious and special things for all of your senses. Fun events, more art, more fun.

If you are in Plett, swing by! We are open most of the time. Unless we are not here.