Business

Getting to know you - Chez

After Sam's blog post it's my turn to share a bit more about me (Chez). I'm the other half of the Single Fin Collective and effectively the operations, finance and marketing departments. All of the sea life illustrations are my work as well as other screen prints and watercolours we've sold over the years.

Chez competing at the World Bellyboard Championships, 2024

What’s your idea of a perfect day off?

Firstly and most importantly, a lie in and a coffee in bed to start the day. After a lazy start I want to go outdoors, whether it's a surf, a walk or a swim I love getting out and being around the coast. If there are no waves then I'm happy to explore a part of the coast path, stop for lunch somewhere and find a nice spot to do some drawing or painting. Sam and I are both nature nerds so we'll always have binoculars with us and be on the lookout for wildlife, spotting something unusual really makes the day! The coast path blogs on our website are all from walks I've enjoyed around Cornwall.

Chez consulting on OS map on a walk at Loe Bar in Cornwall

What’s your earliest memory of surfing?

I grew up on the north coast of Kent so we were always around and in the sea but we came to Cornwall every summer to bodyboard or as we called it in the 90s as kids "boogie board"! We'd stay at campsites along the north coast but the one that sticks in my memory is Holywell Bay, trudging through the sand dunes thinking we'd die of heat exhaustion before reaching the beach. The whole family catching waves on our bodyboards will always stay with me.

What’s your favourite movie and why?

I couldn't pick one favourite but the films I could watch over and over, never tiring of are (in no particular order); The Life Aquatic, Whip It and The Way Way Back. All very comforting and quirky films.

Chez's Dolphins print

What do you enjoy most about running the business?

We've been running the business for nearly 9 years now and I've really enjoyed the learning process, whether it's been tax returns, social media marketing or any other number of tasks that go into running a business. Even the most dry or complex areas have been worth learning about and you can be confident there will always be something new to learn around the corner!

What do you find most challenging?

I rarely have enough time or brain space to create new designs for the business, I'd love to set aside some time for this but then creativity doesn't come to you at allotted times. It can also be tough to paint, draw or create generally with the pressure of it being good enough to sell. I love going to workshops like Roots Press' monthly Print Club where I can create with no pressure for it to "be good enough to sell", if you're local to Porthtowan, come along!

Chez sitting on the coast path in Wales whilst doing some sketching

How do you create your sea life designs?

They were originally screen prints of my hand drawn illustrations, printed at the local College of Art when I lived in Plymouth. In recent years where I haven't had easy access to a screen print workshop I have drawn the designs and painted some colourful, textured backgrounds. These have been combined digitally to create the prints you see today and also used on cards, enamel mugs and tumblers.

What’s one piece of advice you wish you’d heard when you started 9 years ago?

You're not doing anything which countless other small business owners haven't done before, so don't worry if you don't know what to do; ask for advice and know that it's completely achievable. You just have to figure it out!

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?

I would love to be able to learn languages effortlessly! I have been learning Italian in recent years, it was a COVID project which has turned into multiple holidays to Italy. Even enrolling myself in language schools in Rome and Florence whilst on holiday. I can't hold a conversation easily, but I can order a coffee!

A man sweeping a fishing boat in Italy

What’s a dream destination on your travel bucket list?

I'd like the spare time and money to properly explore Italy, roam around enjoying the food, culture, landscape and properly learn the language.

What are your plans for 2026?

I have done some outdoor painting courses in recent years with Newlyn School of Art, I'd like to build on this by getting out on the coast path and practising. I'm looking forward to more wildlife watching travels with Sam as we're off to Scotland for two weeks in the Autumn. I'd also like to get a bit braver on my hand plane and keep improving my bodysurfing so I can keep up with the Fringe gang.

I hope you enjoyed reading a little more about us, if you want to find out a bit more about how we got started, see our About Us page. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below!

Francesca Crickmere