On a beautiful autumn day last year, I caught up with graphic designer Ellie Bowie for a chat about creativity, motherhood, and staying curious. We stayed behind, after the Bristol netwalk and continued our conversation through Ashton Court. When I say chat, it was all captured and recorded, for the Freelance Mum podcast – deliberately held over a walk, so we capture all the elements and set the scene.
The summer was ebbing into autumn, as we chatted about what it means to make space for your creative self, whilst juggling freelance life around motherhood. Especially, when life feels like an ‘endless rush’, sometimes a change of pace, can feel decadent.
It wasn’t until January 2026, that I was able to take time to revisit the conversation and edit the podcast. I promised myself, this too, was to be savoured and enjoyed – not just be ‘another process’ for the sake of it.
It also struck me, as I was listening, the New Year is another point, where we can feel torn between managing momentum and getting caught up ‘promises’. An important reminder, that being creative for creativities sake, can be enough.
Creativity Is for Everyone
As we stepped out on our walk, we started by talking about what being creative means – what stuck out to me, was Ellie’s opening sentence “I think it means play to me.” And I love that. As adults, it’s so easy to forget the joy and freedom of play, the curiosity that comes naturally to children. Ellie reminded me (and as you listen, I hope her words remind you too) that creativity isn’t some exclusive club. It’s already in all of us. Sometimes, we just need permission to let it out. Especially as freelancers – it’s part of who we are.
Balancing Motherhood and Freelance Life
One of the constant themes, which are woven throughout Freelance Mum, is how motherhood and running a business intersect. As we walked and talked, Ellie shared honestly how her creative journey has shifted alongside her kids growing up. And it made me reflect on my own experiences – the constant adjustments, the need for flexibility, and the reality that both motherhood and freelance life are ongoing, ever-changing adventures. It’s not always seamless, but that’s part of the beauty of it. Much like the beauty of the seasons, we get to go at our own pace.
Seasonal Rhythms and Creativity
It’s really interesting how seasons influence our creativity and in turn our business. Autumn, for example, can feel like a ‘push-and-pull’ – the urge to ramp things up for work while also wanting to slow down and reflect. Especially, as mums in business, when the children go back to school. We sometimes want to ‘get back on it’, at the same time, as the seasons are beginning to mellow. Ellie spoke about the importance of honouring the natural rhythms, instead of fighting them, so we can give ourselves space to recharge and create.
The Curiosity Club: Making Creativity Tangible
When it comes to creativity and how we can apply to business, Ellie shared her recent launch of the Curiosity Club. A part ‘creative experiment’ for freelancers to really enjoy some time off-line and engage with creativity in a hands-on way. It was launched this year, in the spirit of true, creative fun -sending out a series of prompts and experiences to help people engage with in the moment and consider what inspires and influences them. As someone who signed up to The Curiosity Club, it was not only a joy to receive physical mail, it’s a lovely antidote to the constant digital noise in our lives. It’s a great reminder that creativity thrives when we give it something real to grab onto.
Purpose-Driven Creativity
There is power in all that we do, whether that’s when we’re in our full ‘main character energy’ or taking time, in the quieter moments. In fact, it’s vital, as we run our business around raising a family. We spoke about legacy, as a freelancer, creative and mother, discussed how and how it can sit alongside running a business and raising a family. Ellie’s approach is inspiring; “That women can succeed in business without sacrificing their wellbeing or the planet”. Balancing purpose, passion, and play is challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
This episode of The Download left me reflecting on the spaces we need for creativity, how motherhood shapes our work, and why curiosity is such a powerful tool. Ellie’s insights are a reminder that nurturing creativity doesn’t have to be complicated – it just needs a little space, time, and playfulness.
You can listen to the full conversation in The Download, to help you reconnect with your creative spark.
