A CHANGE of career focus has left a young illustrator from York with designs on business success in the coming year.

Jessica Mahy has launched her own company, North Doodle Co, been mentored by the Prince’s Trust and won a competition for a global brand to stock her products.

“I design and create intricate illustrations for quality paper goods and bespoke wedding stationery,” said Ms Mahy, 25, a self-taught illustrator from the Leeman Road area. She went on the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme, which helps budding entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 to turn their business ideas into reality with training and mentoring support, funding and resources, in February last year.

She launched her business properly in August, and since then her highly distinctive designs have generated a lot of interest - including gaining the attention of a major company.

She said: “During the programme my mentor made me aware of a national competition being run for the first time in 2016 by the Prince’s Trust called Tomorrow’s Talent. I was picked, alongside four other winners, to have my product design created and sold in a high-street store.

“British clothing brand Fat Face chose my design and they will be featuring this on reversible tote bags and scarves, which will be going on sale across the UK and the US.

“In addition to selling my products, with proceeds going to the Prince’s Trust, I also had the opportunity in July to go down to Fat Face’s head offices in Havant, Hampshire, to gain valuable work experience.

“They gave me an insight into how a retail company runs, from sales, to marketing, to business development and relationships. This was invaluable in my own development as an entrepreneur.”

But despite gaining A-levels in art and textiles, the former Archbishop Holgate’s School and York College student had started down a different career path, attending the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds.

While still there she had a pop-up shop in Leeds where she displayed her hand-drawn illustrations - the positive reaction from people helped her decision to change tack.

Ms Mahy also has a website, at northdoodleco.co.uk, and Facebook and Instagram pages.