The story behind Hertfordshire creative studio Beehive Green

Welcome to Beehive Green, my creative studio of one in leafy Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Here’s my story so you can get to know me and my studio a little better.

I’m Andrea Boughton – the founder, creative director, graphic designer and tea maker behind the studio. With a 20+ year career in design, I’m a practical creative, dedicated to helping small brands who think big. It’s hands-on here! 

Off the back of years of London agency experience, I set up my own design practice in 2014. Having worked with big brands for years, my dream was to make good design more accessible. That’s how Beehive Green came about. I now help ambitious independent businesses shine bright. Because brilliant businesses deserve brilliant branding design, whether they’re big or small, old or new.

How I got here

I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I even illustrated and wrote my own stories back in primary school! But it wasn’t until I did my art foundation course that I realised graphic design was a viable career – and the one for me.

That lightbulb moment was when I realised you can communicate through design. I loved the design process of combining ideas, images and words to convey a message. It got my brain ticking as well as creativity flowing. 

Happy I’d decided on my future path, I went on to gain a Graphic Design degree at Coventry University.

First design jobs

When I first left uni I spent a couple of years working in-house for a Hertfordshire regional publisher. It wasn’t the job of my dreams but a great opportunity to cut my teeth in magazine design and get to grips with the practicalities of print. (It was also where I met my husband but that’s another story!)

From there I spent an eight year stretch at an amazing creative comms agency in London called Beetroot. I worked my way up through the ranks to senior designer, alongside managing key client accounts and mentoring junior team members.

At that point my passion was still magazine design. I art directed employee and customer publications for well-known brands like Eurostar, Sainsbury’s, London Underground and Princes’ Trust (to name just a few). 

I loved the buzz and camaraderie of agency life. Highlights were pitching for new business as well as attending award events (and winning!).

I’m proud to say my publications were both finalists and winners at the comms industry awards of choice – PR Week awards and IoIC awards. And my designs helped win new client contracts, including ParcelForce and TNT.

From magazine design to branding design

Designing for big brands, I always worked with their incredibly in-depth brand guidelines. I was fascinated by them. I enjoyed the challenge of keeping my designs on brand, while making them appealing and fresh for their audience.

That’s pretty much where my interest in branding began. 

I started a small side hustle dabbling in brand identity design to explore it more (helping out friends and family starting their side hustles at the same time!).

Becoming an independent creative

When I started a family my priorities completely changed. So I pressed pause and said goodbye to agency life (as well as the daily commute and being out from 7am to 7pm). I’m ever grateful I got to spend an amazing few years making memories with my two children before they started school.

Inevitably, there came a time when I was eager to pick up where I left off. But finding the right role wasn’t straightforward. 

I wanted something that gave me flexibility (honestly, how many school assemblies do kids have) AND let me do the quality creative work I loved! That flex ruled out most agencies. As I’d already dipped my toe in the water freelancing on the side of my day job, I made up my mind to just go for it and work for myself. So I dusted off my Mac and set up my home studio!

What a ride it’s been.

Over the first couple of years, my practice evolved from freelance designer to what I call a creative studio of one. Small but nimble, I offer the services of a small brand and design studio but with one employee – me! 

I love the variety of design work, partnering directly with clients and that I’m able to be hands-on throughout the whole creative process. I also enjoy working with other people, so when a project calls for additional skills I reach out to my network of like-minded collaborators to build the perfect team to make it a success. 

My studio bridges the gap between freelancer and agency, partnering design know-how and strategic thinking with a supportive and friendly approach.

You may have heard the saying “good design is good business” and that is what drives me. I’m all about smart design that brings brands to life and helps small businesses, nonprofits and startups stand out. After all, the right branding attracts the right clients, makes you memorable and helps your business thrive. 

My ethos

My number one goal is simple – to make my clients’ lives as easy as possible. Since my agency days, what’s always stuck with me is how attention to detail and relationships are the most important things.

My motto is to work hard, be nice and give my best. All the time. 

In design, collaboration and good working relationships are everything. Great work starts with trust, honesty and being on the same wavelength.

I’m as invested in my clients’ success as they are, so I only say yes to new opportunities if I’m the right fit for a project (and vice versa). I’m passionate about good design that blends creativity and commercial thinking. I see myself as part of my clients’ team as a partner, working with them – not for. My clients consider Beehive Green their very own virtual in-house studio! 

Branding your business doesn’t need to be complicated – it’s my day-to-day. As a fellow small business owner and the wearer of many hats myself, I get it can feel overwhelming. But you’re in safe hands. If you haven’t worked with a designer before, have no in-house design resources or just need advice from an experienced creative in terms of brand and design, I’m your woman. 

I’ll collaborate with you to identify the right strategic creative direction, then create a brand identity that feels just right and implement it across everything you need. Throughout the branding process I’ll guide you every step of the way to make it a success. 

Nothing beats giving people the confidence and credibility that comes from having a stand out brand that shows their personality, connects with their audience and helps their business grow.

Day-to-day in the studio

These days I work directly with clients like the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, House of Colour and many more small businesses.

Sometimes I collaborate with in-house communications or marketing teams but most often I work directly with business founders, taking on the traditional agency roles of creative director, project manager and designer myself. Organising everything to deliver projects on budget and on time is a given.

A working day always starts with a strong cuppa, a scram to get the kids to school and a dog walk, but everything else varies. 

No two days are the same at Beehive Green. It all depends on the work going on in the studio, who I’m collaborating with and what stage I’m at on projects. One day I could be developing the creative direction for a new brand, the next I could be brainstorming sketches to bring those ideas to life – or even on location art directing a client's photoshoot.

I believe in lifelong learning and invest in my business (and myself) to progress, keep up with the world around me and continually do better. Which means I’m often doing a new skills course, whether that’s working on brand strategy, UX or advancing my Adobe software prowess.

Finding the right balance

Sustaining a good work-life balance can be tricky as a parent who works from home – especially when you have homeschooling thrown in the mix courtesy of the Covid pandemic. Making it work is about being super organised, setting boundaries – and remembering to have fun.

The future

I love the freedom and satisfaction my way of working gives me. Even though my children are fast gaining their own independence, long may it continue. Plus, my boss is the best – she always lets me have time off during the school holidays to hang out with my not-so-littluns!

At the end of the day, I really enjoy being creative. And if I find myself working on things at the weekends or in the evenings it’s because I choose to, not because I have to. Every project is an opportunity to come up with something great.

So, that’s me! I’ll sign off by saying how grateful I am to all the brilliant people I’ve worked with and all the exciting projects I’ve been part of over the last few years. Thanks for trusting me to be part of your journey.

I’m excited about what the future holds and look forward to sharing more along the way. 

If it looks like you’ve found the creative studio you’ve been looking for (and I hope you have!) get in touch to find out how we could work together. I’d love to hear from you.