Tim Shute
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Tim Shute is an illustrator and graphic designer behind Shute Illustration. From Jersey, lived and studied in Bristol and moved back to Jersey. With a BA Hons in Illustration, Tim specialises in Sports Illustration and looks to capture movement, expression, and energy. Tennis has always been one of his passions and some of his best works and commissions revolve around the sport.
Helping other brands and publications advertise and tell a story has always been his main objective, with the long term dream of starting up his own sustainable clothing line.
“Don't limit yourself, we live in a world where your work can get around the whole globe in a matter of minutes, get out there and own it."
Tell us about your path to setting up your business and what motivated you?
I've always been encouraged to be creative, to make the most of my talents and to strive to succeed. I wasn't so aware that someone could make a living out of being creative until my early twenties when I landed my first big commission to create works for Wimbledon for their charity auction. After this experience, meeting some of my tennis idols, soaking every minute of it up like a sponge. I had worked out what sort of lifestyle and living I wanted to aspire to, and the idea of creating dynamic, impactful and motivating pieces for the likes of advertising and editorial pieces for sports coverage is something I feel is my calling.
I want to use this as a stepping stone to expressing myself more and more now that I feel I have found my voice, I don't think anyone should limit themselves, just see where you and your friends help take your creativity. Starting my own ethically sourced sports brand is something I'm also working towards and I dabble in album artwork design.
How do you work and what is a typical day like for you?
Every day presents new challenges and is always different, however, I'll always be keeping up to date with the sports news, thinking of content, listening to podcasts/ blasting out some tunes and prioritising my tasks. I'm still perfecting my use of project management software and I'm constantly reaching out to potential clients and touching base with previous clients.
What are the best parts about your business?
I love problem-solving, and illustration isn't always about making something pretty - it can be about taking a message and presenting it in a powerfully visual way, and thinking how best to do that so people get it at a first glance is a great challenge. Of course, being my own boss is also a great factor and a feeling of greater control over my future in the industry.
What has been your greatest struggle as a business owner so far?
In the past have somewhat segregated myself, whereas I get older I'm finding learning from other people experiences and just asking questions to be invaluable. There's enough out there in this industry for everyone and therefore I want to get myself surrounded by fellow creatives on the island and help motivate each other, creating a good support network, which I'm sure Creators HQ will prove to be and I'm very happy to be joining... it's been well overdue!
What has been your biggest a-ha moment so far?
That you only get out what you put in, that I'm steering my business and need to continue to strive towards what I want, as there is so much I want to do! I have since discovered many inspiring people, Dave Will Design to name one person, who do exactly what I want to do full time for some great companies and inspire me to keep working hard to reach their levels of success and beyond.
Do you have any advice for other small business owners?
Don't limit yourself, we live in a world where your work can get around the whole globe in a matter of minutes, get out there and own it. Don't feel you have to do things on your own either, I couldn't recommend joining a group of creatives like this enough. You just need to work out what lane you love working in and smash it.
What currently inspires you?
I got to work on a project making football player cards for a great cause, where I discovered there are so many people who love doing what I do, I feel like I've found my voice, and its been a great journey so far, however, I only feel like I'm just beginning, which is so exciting!
You can contact and find me here