THE SH*TTY BITS:

- I was going through a rough period during the first part of the year, and began to suffer from a monster case of depression which put me off drawing for a while. It eventually manifested itself as a dreaded bug in January, caused by a mixture of cattarh, isolation from friends, really annoying people at college, negative thoughts about the future and crushingly low self-esteem. Thankfully, my angsty days are all in the past now thanks to a bit of remedial magic and a major boost in confidence.

- A close relative of mine passed away early on in the year, which didn't really help with my mood at the time (ironically, one of my mum's pet rabbits died the very same day)  

- Had my own little hacking scandal after a pesky internet troll snuck their way into my email account and started spamming all my contacts, so I pretty much had to start up a new account from scratch.

- I managed to humiliate myself in front of the WHOLE FAMILY (yes, even the dogs saw it) after I got into an argument with a taxi driver who was giving me a hard time.


THE BEST BITS:

- My silly comic strip about a jaffa cake-obsessed squirrel got published in a local magazine, thanks to a bit of encouragement from Stourbridge Glass Engravers where I did work experience for 6 months. I was extremely chuffed for days on end, and it even got me out of my funk for a short while, too.

- I had some of my artwork put on display alongside stuff by my buddies and for an Autism Awareness exhibit.

- I Managed to conquer few physical fears (such as going down slopes and walking over stiles) thanks to a team building ramble in the woods in Quatford.  

- I completed a variety of of commission pieces during the summer, from creating a logo for a fitness club to producing colouring-in illustrations for The Ruskin Glass Centre, as well as designing some beer bottles for the Glasshouse's 10th anniversary shindig. Plus, I got paid in jaffa cakes (as well as some real cash, too!)

- I graduated from the Hellhou-erm, sorry, Glasshouse in July. Did a speech in front of hundreds of people, and it went down a frickin' storm! I even managed to make my dad - the most sarcastic man in England - break into a fit of girlish chuckles!

- My buddies and both turned 20 on the same weekend, so we all hung out together (along with our mates , Kirsty, Adam, Tom, Jess and Chris) at Merry Hill to celebrate! I can't wait to do something like it again soon...

- I got accepted into Mons Hill Campus in Dudley and started my Level 3 Graphic Design course in September. So far, things are pretty swell despite all the mindnumbing amount of coursework that keeps piling up.

- In November, I went on my very first trip to London to check out an exhibition at the V&A on 'Postmodernism'.

- I finally tidied my bedroom.


Overall, it's been a year that has probably had more highs than lows, yet my ever swaying mood swings made it seem a lot worse. Still, here's to a much more positive and productive 2012!