leaving a ‘secure career’ to become an artist: Heather Moore’s Story
Changing careers brings up a lot of emotions to be processed as well as practicalities that need to be dealt with. To some, it may seem like an easy decision. I knew it was something that I wanted to do and that I had the tools to do it but it was still scary. Scary, exciting, bewildering…
This is the warts and all story of how I left teaching to become an artist.
My former life
To be honest, teaching was never my first choice of career. I always knew that I wanted to do something creative and my first instinct was interior design.
I grew up in the golden age of Changing Rooms, was obsessed with a book my mum had on creating murals and had very clear ideas on what my own home would look like even as a girl of 13.
The trouble is, when you start talking to careers advisors who have an agenda to push and adults who have their own limiting beliefs, you start to think that the creative jobs are outside the realms of a ‘proper job’ and that you’ll end up destitute.
‘Oh that’s such a hard industry to get into’
‘You need to get a degree and get something secure’
‘Artists only make money when they’re dead’
Bla bla bla bla bla…
So I started thinking of artistic pursuits as only a hobby or something that I could teach to others in a classroom. Having worked with children in my weekend job running parties at a soft play, I leant into the idea of teaching. I could inspire the next generation. Art was my passion but the thought of working with teenagers was not a fun one so Primary School it was.
‘Great,’ I thought ‘I’ll do a teaching degree.’
At the age of 18 I moved into my student accommodation full of positivity (and home sick tears) and started my new adventure. Everyone else seemed to thrive on teaching practise but I just felt exhausted. Never the less I kept going because that’s how I was brought up.
Long story short - 20 years on, 2 bouts of stress and a nervous breakdown later I decided enough was enough. I had inspired many children and some teachers along the way and given my all to the job. My boundaries had not been respected and I’d seen so many colleagues mistreated (this was not just in one school). It no longer felt like a safe place to be - secure income or not.
I took my savings and left.
I have never regretted writing that letter of resignation and I do not miss the job.
Starting a new life
That first summer away from teaching was amazing. There was no catch up work, no thinking about the start of term or dread the last week of the holidays - bliss. Just me and my daughter enjoying time together.
Then came September.
My daughter skipped off to school and I sat in my house wondering how the fuck to start. I already had my art business - I’d been running it alongside my teaching job - but I wasn’t sure how to organise my week anymore or even how to dress now I had no restrictions on me.
I had so many habits to unlearn, so many filters to remove. Honestly, that was 2022 and still in 2025, I am noticing hangovers from my teacher persona. That’s okay though. As humans, we are constantly evolving and as a sole trader that affects my business too. There’s no corporate facade. Its just me.
Here are a few things I’ve figured out:
If I want to swear on camera or in a blog I fucking will. I’m a potty mouth and that’s okay. I am who I am.
My body is not offensive. I have a banging pair of boobs and I can wear outfits that celebrate them. I don’t need to hide myself for anyone anymore.
There are people that I do and don’t want to work with so its a good thing to be marmite and put off the people who are not for me. If they don’t like my work, my pricing or my personality then there are plenty of other artists for them to find.
My art is personal. Trends are for other businesses and people who need a creative starting point. My art comes from the heart, from nostalgia and from instinct.
If I feel like shit then it’s not a good time to create marketing materials. Nobody is going to engage with me in mood hoover mode. In this situation, I put it to one side and do something that will make me feel better. Instagram will still be there in a few hours or days.
Self care is not selfish. If I’m down then nothing in my business will get done so I come first!
No doubt there are things that I have missed off this list and more things that I will add to it as I develop myself and my business.
Things I would tell September 2022 me (and anyone becoming a full time artist)
There are so many things to learn and change but it doesn’t all need to happen at once. Taking time to consider then kind of life you want will help you decide how your art business needs to serve you and what your goals are. Perhaps you want to earn 6 figures or maybe you just want to pay the bills. There is no wrong answer. It’s your life!
Once you know what you want (and believe that you deserve it) then it’s time to start making art. Make bad art until it becomes good. Try different media, and styles until you find your artistic flow. Finding your style is a process and it takes as long as it takes.
Now you combine that style with you goals and consider how you’re going to achieve them. This means thinking about what you will create, where you can sell it and whether you want to run workshops, mentor other artists or look into things like print on demand. Whatever you decide, the art always comes first. You don’t make art to fit the audience, you make art that comes from your soul and is imbued with your story and then you find the audience that are looking for that.
If you make massive pieces with a 5 figure pride tag then that really narrows down your audience. If you create digital art that is printed in large quantities then that brings down the price point and changes your audience (and number you need to sell) dramatically.
It is so easy to get stuck in the admin and forget to create. I definitely fell foul of this early on and I noticed that my feelings towards my business changed. One hour in the studio completely changes my mood and reinvigorates me so starting the day that way is always preferable. Finding what works best for you is crucial.
So what now?
Now I continue to explore my creativity.
Now I go easy on myself when things aren’t flowing and take it back to basics - making, showing up honestly online and checking in with people who make me feel good.
Now I know that its okay to stop and reassess - in fact that’s great. Nothing works forever so adjustments are inevitable.
If any of this is resonating with you then I’d love to hear your story too. Comment below or come get in touch here.
You can find my work here and more information on my mentoring on this page.