LJ Designs UK is a unique business, run by 23 year old Liam Jacobi, which transforms your favourite photos into hand drawn portraits.
The self-taught Sheffield based artist says that LJ Designs completely undercuts the current online market as he bases his work on ‘pride’ not ‘greed’.
Liam, from Totley, Sheffield, told The Mystery Shopper: “From consistent and thorough research LJ Designs UK is the cheapest and most valued for money portrait artist around the Yorkshire area, and across the country.”
So how did it all begin? Liam has always had a passion for drawing and was noticed at school for being above the majority in the year at drawing and painting. Whilst working as a nightclub promoter for The Viper Rooms in Sheffield, he began signwriting for bars and restaurants.
“I was fed up of being a promoter, and was hardly making a wage to live off, then my aunty asked me to do a portrait of her two dogs. She paid me £50 and told me it was worth that, so it just clicked that I could make a good living from drawing.”
He began to advertise on Twitter and Facebook and had “a lot of interest very quickly”, getting 570 likes on his Facebook page in just four weeks. “The problem became that I had too much work to do in such little time, so I had to up my price a little,” Liam told The Mystery Shopper. But even with a price increase, Liam says that his drawings are still around 30% cheaper than the current online market.
The owner and artist began to advertise signed portraits of the popular Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing, Andy Jordan, Oliver Proudlock and Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan for Mother’s day and had 26 orders in 6 weeks.
Michelle Keegan signing her portrait with Liam and his partner Karena
Liam has since drawn portraits for Umar Kamani, owner of prettylittlething.com and family run site boohoo.com and Emmerdale star Adam Thomas. He drew portraits of the One Direction band members and sold around 50 prints to fans outside their concert at Motorpoint Arena in April this year. “I ended up making a few hundred quid off them, it went down really well!”
Since opening for business on 1st February 2013, Liam has sold more than 40 portraits, sold at £40 – £60, and four canvases which sell for £100 each. “I have barely advertised my business but I’m already turning over more than an average full time wage.”
“I’ll transform your favourite photographs into unique and sentimental hand drawn portraits you can treasure forever.”
Liam began an eight week business course at Sheffield City College to help him get his business running and to “take it the next level”. The young artist’s work will be showcased at the top of The Moor in Sheffield on 3rd June.
“No matter how big or small, I always strive to make my work the best I possibly can, paying attention to detail where others may not see and delivering them with the highest level of professionalism.”
Liam has had potential business partners approach him and told The Mystery Shopper that he wants to push into canvas paintings because he knows that that’s where the niche market is.Check out Liam’s work on his Facebook and Twitter, or visit http://ljdesignsuk.webs.com/ or to check prices and make an order, click here.
Words by Vicky Ashdown
The Mystery Shopper 