I've spent more than 20 years working across graphic design, publishing, digital and photography, but what clients usually need from me is pretty simple:
Someone experienced who can understand what they're trying to do, take the creative work off their hands and get it finished properly.
Sometimes the brief arrives neatly packaged and ready to go. Sometimes it's a rough idea, too much copy, a half-finished website or something that's been sitting on the to-do list for far too long.
Both are absolutely fine.
I can help work out what needs doing, shape the content where needed and take care of the creative and practical details from there.
You don't need to have everything figured out before you get in touch.
Meet Barbara
HOW I WORK
A creative partner, not another layer
Stroke of Luck Studio is deliberately personal.
You deal directly with me from the first conversation to the finished work. There are no account managers, complicated handovers or layers between you and the person actually doing the job.
That also means I'm not limited to looking at one isolated piece.
A brochure might need its content reorganised before I design it. A website might need clearer wording as well as a better layout. A business might need new photography so everything finally feels like it belongs together.
I look at what you're trying to communicate, how it needs to come across and what we actually need to create to make it work.
Then I get on with making it.
Fun fact
Why Stroke of Luck?
The name is a nod to my maiden name, Luck.
So it's a little more personal than it might first appear.
And, let's be honest, my married name is a bit of a mouthful here in the UK.
20+
years of design experience
300+
photo shoots
55,490
cups of coffee
(and counting)
EXPERIENCE
From layouts to lenses
My creative path started in textile and surface design, where I graduated cum laude, before graphic design pulled me in and I never looked back.
I later spent several years working as a senior layout designer for a magazine. That's where I really developed my love of typography, imagery and bringing words and visuals together properly. It was also where photography started becoming a bigger part of my work.
I went on to spend ten years as a wedding photographer and today continue to photograph families through Wyatt & Ruby Imagery, alongside brand and product photography for businesses.
Over the years those different skills have naturally become less separate.
A website needs words and imagery as well as design. A brochure sometimes needs its content fixing before it needs a layout. A brand needs to feel consistent whether somebody sees it on screen, in print or in a photograph.
That mix of experience means I can see how those pieces fit together and help you get from “we really need to sort this” to something that's actually finished and ready to use.
