My Career: ‘Being flexible is important... I have five sources of income'

Name: Sarah Rohu

Age: 45

Lives: Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork

Job title: Wedding Illustrator and Art Educator. I provide a versatile, client-focused, artistic service. I work throughout Munster, painting guest portraits at weddings. In addition, I create custom illustrations for customers worldwide, ranging from house portraits to cherished pets, special memories and personal milestones.

My commissions all have one thing in common – meaning and love. My tag line sums it up - Life’s Moments, Illustrated.

I view my work as a collaboration between myself and the client. I also produce my own original art. You can see some of my prints on display in The Boathouse Gallery, Kinsale, and Susan Herlihy Ceramics and Gift Gallery, Midleton.

Lastly, I teach watercolours in Glounthaune and Carrigtwohill Community Centres, Fota House, and recently began green sketching mornings in Fota Arboretum and Gardens.

Salary bracket: It is enough to make a living and sustain myself. The first year was tough. I had savings and two part-time jobs.

Education background: After school, I went to UCC to study Arts, but I had no idea back then what I wanted to do. I left after three months. I got a job in Roches Stores in Wilton. I used to love going into the trendy Sasha women’s clothing store on my lunch breaks, and soon I dreamed of learning fashion design.

I created fashion illustrations from childhood. I re-entered education and studied Fashion Design and Knitted Textiles under Joan Cafferky at St John’s College (now Cork College of FET Douglas St Campus). More recently, I returned to UCC and completed a Masters in Project Management.

Hobbies: I adore all things nature-related, hygge and coffee shops! I find baking relaxing when I have a day off. I am a member of Birdwatch Ireland and enjoy nature walks. I sketch outdoors (green sketching). I am passionate about nurturing and protecting our biodiversity. Gardening is pure bliss.

Describe your job in five words: Rewarding, unpredictable, flexible, exciting and challenging.

Describe yourself in five words: Honest, intuitive, creative, value-driven and kind.

Personality needed for this kind of work? You need to be a problem-solver. I can be risk-averse, but in business I believe it is important to follow your gut and take a chance. My work can be unpredictable in terms of cash flow, and as a solo entrepreneur, I have no team to support the running of the business. I have to judge my success by bookings and commissions. A beginner mindset is mportant and a love of learning helps! There are constant feedback loops I respond to in my business planning. You need to enjoy interacting with people and be comfortable being alone too.

How long are you doing this job? I registered with Revenue in January, 2024, determinedly! It felt like a pivotal step. At that stage, I had no business at all, just a desire to make my idea work!

I was soon booked for my first wedding, which was a strong indicator that I had identified a need that was not being met. My wedding illustration business grew steadily from there.

In addition, I held my first workshop ‘Romantic Roses’ in Carrigtwohill and Glounthaune community centres in time for Valentine’s Day, which was absolutely amazing! I had not a clue starting off, but my students’ passion and enthusiasm encouraged me so much.

How did you get this job? I loved the course in St John’s, and it led me to work in Niall Roberts Fabrics, South Mall, now the Bookshelf Café! I created elaborate draping on mannequins for the windows. I learned about dress design, textiles and was part of a team of like-minded fashion lovers! The owner mentored me in fashion and business.

I left after a couple of years to move to Dublin, knowing the difference between satin weaves, raw silks and two-toned taffeta.

I loved my new job as a visual merchandiser in Marks & Spencer when it opened in Dundrum, Dublin. Years went by, and I eagerly progressed into management.

I eventually took a promotion to work in M&S Patrick Street in Cork city. I worked in all areas, overseeing at different stages womenswear, menswear and kids’ wear - I even worked for a year in the busy food hall. After 16 years, I learned about so many aspects of management that it is difficult to compress them into a few sentences. However, I was ready for new challenges, so I took voluntary redundancy in 2021.

For many years, art was a hobby I engaged in after a busy day at work. In 2019, a colleague asked me to paint her some purple flowers for her home décor. After that, word of mouth spread, and soon other colleagues asked me to create illustrations of their families or pets. I was honoured and thrilled, and it sparked the beginning of what I am doing now.

However, I was still not ready to launch into entrepreneurship as an artist. In Autumn, 2021, I applied for a Master’s in Project Management at UCC. Despite having no undergraduate degree, the years of retail management were recognised, and I was accepted onto the course. It is a broad topic relevant to so many types of business, and I loved it. I completed it over two years part-time.

During my studies, I noticed the trend of wedding illustration had come to Ireland, and I instantly wanted to try it! I could draw people, which was of course the most important part.

After completing my thesis on the challenges of being a female project manager, I decided it was time to give my business wedding illustration a go. I did a three-month life drawing course in the Crawford Art College to help improve my drawing skills. I got a mentor with the Local Enterprise Office after completing a start your own business course and set about developing my business plan. I aimed to go live by January, 2024.

My Master’s led me to get a part-time job as a project manager with Nature Network Ireland in December, 2023. This enabled me to start my business. I still work there one day a week, managing their social media. I launched my website in May, 2025.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience? Drawing skills are clearly important for wedding illustration. It takes practice to get the balance of speed with accuracy. Technical skills are important too, and being able to use applications like Canva is vital. I gained valuable computer skills during my master’s degree.

Being flexible is important. I have five sources of income and have ideas for further business development. Diversification is important for maintaining a steady income. If one aspect is slow, I have the others to keep my enterprise going. So art is one part of what I do, but business management is key to keeping the paint flowing.

I have an 8-week course coming up in Autumn, 2026, at Cork College FET, Douglas Street Campus. So promoting this is going to be my focus over the summer.

When wedding season is over after the summer, I usually turn my attention to workshops. In the weeks before Christmas, demand for commissions for gifts increases significantly.

Describe a day at work: My dog makes sure I get up early every morning! After breakfast, I normally walk my dog, then make coffee and get started. This is either admin tasks, such as answering emails or creating ads for my workshops on Canva to put up on my social media accounts.

I am always thinking ahead, and plan workshops around six months in advance. I then begin painting, in two-hour blocks. I have a family, so sometimes I take time away in the afternoon. After dinner, I often do some more painting or administration. I like to break up an eight-hour work day like this. I find it gives me balance and avoids burn-out.

On the day before a wedding or art workshop, I will spend quite a bit of time preparing. If I am teaching, I have to finalise my numbers and organise materials for each learner. For weddings, I carefully review all the details my clients have sent then plan my journey to the venue. All my electronic devices must be charged and ready. At the wedding, I take photos of guests and start painting during the drinks reception. In the days thereafter, I produce the remainder of the portraits and paint a high-detailed portrait of the couple.

How many hours do you work a week? 40 hours

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: 6-7. It can be sometimes. I take any negatives as opportunities to do something differently or to improve. It is important to continually diversify.

I manage stress by stepping back and checking in with myself to understand exactly the cause. I might be juggling too much at any one time. This might mean fine-tuning my time and re-orienting myself on what is important just for that day. It can feel overwhelming with so many commitments!

Do you work with others or on your own? On my own, but I collaborate with venues and clients!

When do you plan to retire or give up working? It feels like a way of life to be an artist. It lights me up and I am excited to see where it takes me. I am very grateful. I guess if the business is not sustaining me financially, I would supplement it by increasing hours in other part-time work, as I have done during the growing phase of my business.

Best bits: Time flexibility and autonomy. I also can weave my personal branding into my business such as ‘green sketching’, which is part mindfulness, part nature with art. These are all things I love.

Worst bits: Unpredictable income and balancing all the roles at once!

Advice to those who want your job? Contact the Local Enterprise Office for support. They are wonderful. Consider getting a mentor. Invest in good equipment. Be positive and open to learning from mistakes. Don’t let a lack of qualifications hold you back. Experience counts! For the over 40s, I think we all have this valuable experience to offer, but it is totally possible to learn so many new things through upskilling.

Any other comments?

• Email info@sarahrohu.ie.
• Green Sketching is every month on the second Sunday in Fota Gardens until Autumn.
• 8-week course coming Autumn, 2026. Email for more or see https://douglasstreetcampus.ie/night-college/art-and-design/ - Exploring Watercolour Painting