Rock ‘n’ roll stationer wins national award
WINNER: Dawn West
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A businesswoman who creates alternative rock ‘n’ roll wedding and event stationery is celebrating after scooping a national award.
Music fan Dawn West launched Leopard Cherries Design nearly three years ago, initially creating her own range of personalised prints and cards as well as upcycling old vinyl records to use in some of her work.
“This eventually developed into creating wedding stationery and personalised decor because I thought some of my artwork would work well in designs for those looking to have a non-traditional wedding or event,” she explained.
“I had designed my own wedding invites in 2018 but at the time it hadn’t occurred to me to develop it into a business.”
Now her hard work has paid off after winning the Most Unique Stationery category at the annual Quirky Wedding Awards, the UK’s only awards event aimed at recognising alternative, inclusive and accessible wedding suppliers.
She added: “I’ve always loved alternative, quirky and lowbrow art while cult movies, music and gigs are a big part of my life. I’m also a huge fan of horror and the macabre so I like to create designs which take elements from all of these.
“Alongside the designs I create from my own ideas, I also offer a bespoke service to those wanting something completely of their own to complement their special day.”
Dawn, who also works as a graphic designer at The Deep, studied A-level art at Hull College before graduating with a degree in fashion design from the University of Leeds.
It was during a five-year spell living in Australia where she worked as a pub manager that she started to make and sell her own artwork, decor and jewellery in her spare time as well as teaching herself graphic design.
“When I returned to the UK I continued to make and sell things online and at craft fairs under a different brand name before launching Leopard Cherries Design in February 2022.
“I’ve made some really good friends through having a small business who I probably wouldn’t have ever met if it wasn’t for Leopard Cherries.
“I joined Small Biz Hull & Yorkshire at the end of 2022 which has been an amazing support network for myself and so many other small businesses in the area.
“I’ve also been lucky to collaborate with so many awesome wedding suppliers through both styled shoots and real weddings. So much work goes on behind the scenes by everyone.”
Features in specialist online and magazine titles such as Quirky Weddings, Rock ’n’ Roll Bride and Til Death – Dark Alternative Wedding Collective have also helped raise her profile with the recent awards ceremony in Birmingham being the cherry on the cake.
“The award was completely unexpected as I never thought my ideas would lead to something amazing because they are usually impulsive and experimental. Even on the night of the ceremony I didn’t think I would win so I had nothing planned to say when I did! I’m still in a state of disbelief even now.”
Dawn says she’s looking forward to 2025 with plans to extend her range of items and explore new design ideas as well as exhibiting at a number of upcoming local wedding fairs.
She can be contacted via @leopardcherriesdesign on Instagram and Facebook.