Evelyn Grimes

Why this persona fits the audience

She works full-time in brand design and also runs a small Shopify shop for her own art prints. For the shop she assembles wall-art mockups manually in Canva and Photoshop, then tracks which images are live in a spreadsheet shared with her partner.

• Age: 36
• Location: Manchester, UK
• Occupation: Graphic designer and side-store owner
• Income: £54,000/year from employment plus occasional shop revenue
• Education: BA in Graphic Design
• Company size: Small agency (15 employees)
• Years in role: 12

“It's all about building something that feels right, both aesthetically and practically. If it doesn't work efficiently, it doesn't matter how good it looks.”

Evelyn Grimes, 36, is a Manchester-based graphic designer whose career has been built on a foundation of meticulous attention to detail and a keen eye for visual harmony. After graduating with a BA in Graphic Design, she quickly found her footing in the agency world, honing her skills in brand identity and digital design. For the past twelve years, she's worked at a small but reputable agency, contributing to a diverse range of client projects and steadily climbing the ranks. Her income from this role, around £54,000 annually, provides a stable financial base. However, Evelyn's creative drive extends beyond her day job. She channels her passion for art and design into a personal venture: a small Shopify store selling her own art prints. This side hustle, born from a desire to create and control her own artistic output, has become a significant part of her identity. She dedicates her evenings and weekends to it, meticulously crafting wall-art mockups in Canva and Photoshop, a process she finds both rewarding and time-consuming. Her partner, Liam, a software developer, assists by managing their shared spreadsheet, which meticulously tracks which prints are live and sales data. This dual career path reflects Evelyn's core values of reliability, practicality, and the creation of good visual systems, both for her clients and her own brand. She's not driven by a desire for rapid expansion or fame, but rather by a steady, sustainable growth that allows her to maintain creative integrity and a semblance of work-life balance. Her recent decision to invest in a higher-tier subscription for her design software was a pragmatic move to streamline her mockup creation process, acknowledging the time saved was worth the increased cost. She views her finances pragmatically, saving consistently and making considered purchases, preferring tools that demonstrably improve her workflow and output quality.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Evelyn's weekday begins around 7:00 AM with coffee and a quick scan of industry news. She leaves for her agency job by 8:30 AM, arriving in Manchester city centre. Her workday is a mix of client calls, design software (Adobe Creative Suite), and team collaboration until 5:30 PM. After work, she might grab a quick dinner or head straight home. Evenings are often spent at her desk, working on her Shopify store – perhaps designing new prints, updating listings, or creating mockups in Canva and Photoshop. She aims to wrap up by 10:00 PM, leaving time to unwind before bed.

Lifestyle

Evelyn lives in a well-appointed two-bedroom flat in Chorlton, Manchester, which she's slowly decorated with a mix of vintage finds and her own framed prints. She's a creature of habit, enjoying quiet mornings with a strong coffee and planning her day. Weekends often involve visiting local markets for unique home decor items or spending time refining her art prints. She's financially responsible, saving diligently, and prefers investing in quality over quantity. Socially, she enjoys intimate gatherings with close friends rather than large parties, valuing deep connections.

Work life

Her days are split between her full-time role as a brand designer at a small Manchester agency and her burgeoning art print business. At the agency, she juggles client briefs, team meetings, and tight deadlines, focusing on creating cohesive brand identities. Evenings and weekends are dedicated to her Shopify store, where she meticulously crafts wall-art mockups using Canva and Photoshop, ensuring each piece looks professionally presented. She collaborates closely with her partner on tracking inventory and sales in a shared spreadsheet, a system born out of necessity.

Relationships

Evelyn is in a long-term relationship with her partner, Liam, a software developer, who provides practical support and helps manage the business spreadsheet. She has a small circle of close friends from university and work, with whom she shares design insights and life updates. Her parents, retired teachers, are proud of her career but don't fully grasp the intricacies of her online business.

How they decide

Evelyn is a methodical decision-maker. She researches options thoroughly, weighing pros and cons, and often seeks input from her partner on significant choices, especially those involving finances or time investment. She values practicality and evidence of effectiveness over hype.

How they sound

Speaks with a clear, measured tone, often using precise language. Her accent is a mild Mancunian lilt, softened by years of professional communication. She avoids overly casual slang but isn't stiff; she'll use terms like 'brilliant' or 'lovely' naturally. She tends to explain her thought process when discussing work or creative choices.