My name is Kirstie and I started And So We Begin in 2012 as a home for my creative ideas. I independently publish children's books and create illustrations.

My first project as a company was Angel's Great Escape: A Christmas Story, written by me and illustrated by Kristyna Litten. I created an ebook of the story before publishing the book in print for Christmas 2016.

When I started And So We Begin, I thought of myself as a writer but I've since found my love of illustration really developing and I now spend a lot of my time drawing. I am completely self taught and love making things that bring a little warmth, cosiness and joy.

My second picture book and the first one that I have illustrated, An Amazing Alphabet of Cake was published by And So We Begin in November 2017.

I have also written a book about how I publish picture books independently. Do take a look if you’d like to do the same yourself.

You can also buy And So We Begin prints, cards and stickers with my illustrations in my shop. 

I balance And So We Begin with my work as a freelance event manager. If you would like to contact me about events work, please email hello [at ] andsowebegin [dot] co [dot] uk.

Another part of this site is my If In Doubt Create mini blog. I wanted a place to counterbalance the busy nature of life today and its pages will slowly fill up with little things I find that make me happy, pretty things, interviews with creatives, writing, photographs, newly discovered music, podcasts and films that help me to switch off. I hope that you find it a calm, relaxing hideaway.

© 2012 - 2020 And So We Begin Ltd. All rights reserved. All content on this site is produced by me and copyright And So We Begin Ltd. If you would like to feature, licence or reproduce it, please ask my permission by contacting me via my contact page or emailing hello [at ] andsowebegin [dot] co [dot] uk. Videos that are embedded on my If In Doubt Create blog are the sole property of the artist and no copyright infringement is intended. Thanks!