Meet Kate Frost

Immersion has truly been a life-changing experience and a turning point for me. I always knew I was meant to be doing something creative, but I never knew what that would look like. I am a parent carer. My eldest, who is almost eighteen, is profoundly learning disabled. In my late thirties, I began teaching yoga, and it became a lifeline. But deep down, my heart still longed for a different creative calling.

In 2020, I could not teach anymore and I hit an all time low. At forty, I thought maybe I should let go of dreaming big, accept my life as a carer and find an easy job that required little of me. Then I bought some art supplies and started drawing and painting intricate mandalas. I had loved drawing Celtic knot work when I was younger. I even sold two paintings locally and had one exhibited at the Black Swan Arts gallery. It lit a fire in me, but it still did not feel like a clear path. Painting in a small home with children around is not easy.

Then I saw Bonnie Christine’s Start Simple course advertised online. I had never heard of surface pattern design and it ticked every box. I felt a deep knowing that this was it. I could make physical art and also work digitally, which I love, and learn the business side of things, which I also love.

I applied for the scholarship in 2023. I did not receive it, but I kept Immersion on my vision board. I used every free resource I could find, watched Skillshare, and even bought a MacBook Air on my last bit of credit. I committed to doing one thing a day and trusting the process.

At the start of 2024, on the final night of enrolment into Immersion, I sat with my laptop wondering if I should email the team to ask if they might consider offering a twelve month payment plan, something that was not advertised at the time. I almost did not send the email. I felt embarrassed to ask and unsure if I could make it work financially. But I clicked send. And you replied. And you said yes.

Immersion gave me the technical foundation for my new career path and the confidence to call myself a designer. It gave me a community to lean on and support in return, and a clear path ahead. Consistency has been key. Now, a couple of years later, I have the first version of my website up, a newsletter, an evolving portfolio and the courage and knowledge to cold pitch to my dream clients.

My first licensing deal came this month when I became a finalist in the TwoPages Design contest. It was a whirlwind. I was flown to Los Angeles, won cash prizes and gained incredible exposure. I met Bonnie, who is just the sweetest, and other creatives in the industry who confirmed that artistry and storytelling are more sought after than ever by major brands.

The experience gave my confidence a huge boost. I said yes to things even through the fear, including public speaking at the event and being filmed for a promotional video that now has almost fifty thousand views on the TwoPages YouTube channel.

All of this is thanks to Immersion and that one chance encounter with an advert encouraging me to Start Simple. I now have a clear path to earning an income that can support my family in the future. I am not earning a profit yet, but I know I will, and it is all thanks to Bonnie’s flagship course and the community she has built.

Thank you so much!