let me introduce myself…

I’m Helen, a straight talking, chatty welsh lady and a self confessed “type A right brainer”. I should probably explain further, brought up in the Welsh metropolis of Cardiff, as a child, I could often be found constructing arguments for the school debate team alongside getting paint under my fingernails in the art studio.

In essence, I am at my happiest when the freedom associated with creativity meets with the analysis that is required for logic. I always felt frustrated when I was made to choose between the two and I realised regardless of my passions something I always campaigned for was a sense of justice and so at the tender age of eighteen, I went ahead and pursued a career in law.

An epiphany {and a marriage proposal} several years later led me to set up my own online platform. This was way back when people would squint their eyes and turn their noses up at you when you said you had a blog. But with over 100,000 views a month and offers from some major brands landing in my inbox I knew it was going to become my full time gig!!

It turns out my adoration for classical technique coupled with my passion for creativity was the perfect combo for online content creation!!

The following years were a whirlwind. I attended event ceremonies {and won awards} at The Ritz, which is, to this day, one of my biggest “pinch myself moments”. I wrote marketing material and styled promotional shoots that were featured in the likes of Elle Decor, Conde Naste Brides and had a thriving online community…

I will always be so grateful and humbled by the wonderful opportunities these years afforded me. Many friends and family would pass comment on how I was thriving and to the outside world this is undoubtedly how it appeared but a chance encounter at Central Saint Martins in December 2016 was a huge catalyst for change for me…

I have something to believe in now that I know you believed in me

…having never “formally” trained as a stylist I decided to enrol myself on a course at one of the most prestigious fashion colleges in the world. On the first day the butterflies kicked in but they soon dissipated when I immersed myself in the creative environment and quickly made friends with my course mates.

The time flew by and having acquired new exciting skills to build on my existing ones… I couldn’t wait to go out and show the world. I sat with the course tutor who went through my portfolio of images. She told me I had an “eye” but people probably wouldn't hire me because they would think I would struggle on set because of my size. I like to hope that this piece of advice was well meaning, but I felt sucker punched.

I promptly returned home, buried my head in a pillow and sobbed. Huge fat tears fell down my face. It was at that moment I realised I wasn't unhappy that somebody had doubted my ability based on size (I should add here, I had already worked on many a photoshoot with no “struggles”). I was unhappy because I didn't feel like I was being the best, healthiest version of “me”. I decided there in that moment that things were going to change and I was going to take full ownership of where I wanted to be with my life.

At the end of the course, I reached out to all of my existing sponsors and advertisers and admitted I believed banner ads were dyeing a certain death and I wanted to propose different ways we could work together, the “essence” of Milkwood Creative was born. I am thankful for those of you who believed in me and took a leap of faith back then.

Having confided to a friend about exactly what had happened in London, I found myself an amazing therapist and hit the local gym where I found some truly wonderful friends.

Two years later, 11 stone lighter, I genuinely believe that we can move mountains when we want to and we either let that ability overwhelm us or we focus it and fully embrace it. This is the energy and attitude I bring to all of my clients and projects.

Helen x