She's the artist and printmaker helping customers get creative in their own homes. 

Kate Watkins is the owner of Love to Print, the online shop with a range of delightfully simple to use printing kits, which have everything you need to get started. 

If you'd like to try a bit of printing yourself, or are looking for a lovely gift for a frustrated creative, you can choose from lino or cyanotype sun printing kits, which all come complete with comprehensive instructions. 

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Kate, from Eastleigh, is an exhibiting printmaker and works as a printmaking technical instructor at Southampton Solent University. 

She said: "I started Love to Print at the end of 2017 when I had to take a sabbatical from teaching art at Richard Taunton Sixth Form College. My dad had been diagnosed with dementia and had a serious fall so was in and out of hospital and could no longer live at home. I wasn't able to balance juggling my dad's care with having young children and teaching alongside.

"Once I stepped back from teaching I needed some extra income and read John Williams 'Screw Work Break Free' which encourages people to start a business in 30 days on a shoestring budget by focusing on an aspect of their personal passion which is useful to other people.

"The idea for Love to Print came from combining my teaching experience with my love of printmaking by making it an accessible hobby to learn from home.

"Continuing to create my own art and exhibiting work while taking dealing with my dad's illness became my respite and helped me to cope and I know many people use arts and crafts in that way."

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The kits come from a love of art and creativity and are the product of 20 years of art teaching expertise along with Kate's experience as a practising artist to guide people to get the most out of good quality materials.

The kits, which have more than 300 five-star reviews on Kate's Etsy store katewatkinsprints, make great looking, affordable gifts.

The Etsy store really took off during the pandemic as people attempted to learn a new skill, keep children entertained or send gifts to loved ones. 

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