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Nina Robinson, Artist & Maker

We asked Nina Robinson about her her work as a freelance artist and maker, the challenges of running her own business and if she has any advice for people who would like to do something similar.

Nina Robinson is an artist, maker and designer based in London. She makes cheerful, unique gifts and homeware for her brand Nina Bombina. Nina’s signature style is colourful and vibrant and her mission is to uplift people with her creations, and bring a sense of joy. Her products have been featured in magazines including Stylist, Cosmopolitan, Glamour and House Beautiful.

1. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to becoming an artist and maker? What skills and experience do you have?
I've been super arty from a very young age and have always wanted to design and make products. Nina Bombina as a brand was born out of lockdown and began with a range of cards featuring Black and brown characters, as they are often underrepresented in the greetings card industry. Once the cards were taken on board by Moonpig, Funky Pigeon and Paperchase, I started designing prints too, then expanded my range from there. I've got a photography degree and am a professional photographer, but I felt I needed to create things too, rather than just capture them. I’m also a self-taught (occasional) graphic designer!

2.
Can you describe your aesthetic? How did you develop your style?
My style is colourful, maximalist, vibrant and fun. More is more! I don’t know why I’m so drawn to bright colours but they create a feeling of instant joy in me so I know I need to work with them.

3. What materials do you work with?
In the last four years I've worked in lots of different mediums - digital design, polymer clay, fabric, marbling inks, metal, card and more - but my favourite is digital design, so I recently scaled back my making to focus on that, allowing me to apply my designs via print onto different objects; that way, the possibilities are endless!

4. What have you found to be the most challenging thing about being a freelance artist and maker?
I think the most challenging thing is riding the highs and lows of the freelance rollercoaster. Some months you haven’t got much work coming in and it’s easy to slip into a mindset of this being “it” now; it might never pick up again. When it inevitably does pick up again, it’s very easy to go the other way and take on too much, then hit burnout. When the balance is right though, it feels so sweet!

5. What are the different roles you have to take on as a freelancer? And how do you manage this?
I am every part of my business: designing, making, buying, research, marketing, advertising, finance admin, HR, first (and only) point of contact, content creator, website designer, photographer, market stallholder... the list goes on! I organise everything with spreadsheets and lists, and luckily I enjoy wearing all these different hats so a lot of the time it doesn’t feel like work.

I think the most challenging thing is riding the highs and lows of the freelance rollercoaster.

6. What piece of advice would you give to someone who wants to be a freelance artist and maker?
Please do it! Just try it, and if it’s not for you, at least you know. Try to integrate yourself into some creative networks and communities, whether it’s going to mixer events or connecting with people through Instagram, because you can learn a lot from others who are doing what you want to be doing.

7. How do you promote yourself? How do you sell your work?
I post on Instagram as often as I can manage and keep my website up to date. At markets, I sell my work, have an Instagram profile QR code displayed, and collect email addresses to add to my mailing list and send e-newsletters to.

8. How do you get inspiration to create?

I’m inspired by going to art exhibitions, independent gift shops and markets, and discovering makers and products on Instagram. I’m always creating categorised Pinterest boards so I can see what inspires me all in one place if I’m stuck for ideas.

9. Could you describe a typical day for you?
Honestly, every day is different, and most of the time I don’t know what I’m going to do until the day-of. I usually have a slow morning journalling then reading emails with coffee and breakfast, then I could be doing anything from ordering materials or stock or designing a new product, to photographing and making content or selling my products at a market.

10. Are there any projects you would love to be involved in?
It’s a dream of mine to one day have my own bricks-and-mortar shop, whether it’s just me or shared with another maker, selling my products alongside other brands whose products I admire.

Visit Nina's website to see more of her work and follow Nina Bombina on Instagram @nina_bombina.