Fox Tales: Meet Jo from Hello Sunshine
Hello Sunshine is a brand where cats, campervans, cheese and swear words collide to create unapologetically fun and cheeky designs! Jo Want has been bringing her laser-cut jewellery and 10-minute live portraits to Crafty Fox Markets since our early days. Her creations are bold, funny, and guaranteed to make you smile. As Jo says: “life's too short for boring gifts”.
We caught up with Jo to hear more about her portrait work, her love of We Out Here and bringing her beavers to markets… she even shares a cheesy recipe for us all to enjoy. Be warned: this post may (definitely does) contain strong language!
Hey Jo! You're soon to take your portrait set-up to We Out Here! How did the idea for the 10-minute portraits come about and what was your first in-person event?
The portraits actually started almost twenty years ago while I was travelling and missing my friends and family. I kept trying to draw them, but every time I added detailed facial features they somehow looked less like the person! Eventually I stopped drawing noses and mouths altogether and, weirdly… people suddenly became much more recognisable. That accidental discovery ended up shaping the style I still use today.
Over the years the portraits became looser, faster and more instinctive, eventually evolving into the 10-minute portraits I now do at weddings, festivals and markets. I love that the portraits capture the feeling of someone rather than every tiny detail - and that people can watch them come to life right in front of them.
My first in-person events were small local markets and, honestly, I had no idea whether people would trust a stranger to paint them in ten minutes But the response was amazing and I quickly realised the experience became just as important as the final portrait - people chatting, laughing and watching themselves appear on paper in real time.
What's the weirdest/cutest/most exciting request you've had for custom work?
I've painted everything from memorial pet portraits, houses and cars to sparkly festival groups, chaotic family combinations and even a snake in a bow tie
One of my favourite commissions was a special Forest School portrait featuring nineteen different animals (cats, ducks, chickens, chicks and a tortoise!), which was equal parts wholesome and absolutely bonkers.
Another favourite was a request from a Mother of The Bride for a rude rosette pin badge that just said “ONE WILLY FOREVER”. The fact it was a Mother to Daughter gift meant everything and reassured me that my people are out there!
Those slightly unusual (sometimes eyebrow raising) requests always end up being the most fun to create.
You've done Crafty Fox Market at We Out Here a few times now - do you have any particular highlights or anecdotes from the festivals you care to share?
We Out Here honestly feels a bit magic. One of my favourite things is the variety of people who wander into the portrait tent - groups of best mates, families, couples, people covered head-to-toe in sequins at 11am… Everyone's already in such a happy, open mood and it makes the portraits really fun.
I've painted almost non-stop some years until my hand basically forgot how to function, fuelled mostly by iced tea and adrenaline. But one of the loveliest things is seeing people come back year after year saying "you painted us last summer!". There's something really special about creating a physical keepsake at a festival - especially in a time that feels overrun with gadgets. People can get surprisingly emotional about the portraits too, which I never take for granted. It's a real privilege to capture families enjoying their yearly festival tradition, friendships forming, and kids growing up as they come back each year!
Tell us about your Naughty & Nice pin dispensers you bring to markets - what's the reaction to them been?
The Naughty & Nice dispensers started because I wanted something playful and interactive on my stall. After googling gumball machines, I knew I wanted something small but sturdy, not too flashy - and when I discovered the Beaver branded gumball machines I knew I'd hit the jackpot. Now they've become a bit of a market staple! People pick their Beaver, pop in a 3D-printed token, turn the knob and receive either a wholesome pin (the Nice Beaver contains things like stars, cats, flowers, etc.) or a pretty offensive badge, depending on their luck (the Naughty Beaver contains a selection of four-word swears… I'm sure you can imagine which kind!).
The reactions are one of my favourite parts of markets now. You'll suddenly hear someone absolutely cackling across the way because they've just received a badge calling them a twat (it's a term of endearment, honestly!). It's a really good icebreaker and seems to give people permission to be a bit silly. Hearing someone ask 'What's in your beaver?', will never get old! And that's always been the heart of Hello Sunshine really - creating things that make people feel lighter and give them permission to have fun and embrace their inner child!
We'd love to hear about your experience at Crafty Fox Markets and as part of the community…
Crafty Fox genuinely changed things for me. Before my first market with you (back at the Dogstar, Brixton) I was convinced nobody outside of my friends, family and Midlands base would "get" my work - especially the sillier bits. And then suddenly I was accepted to trade in London, surrounded by people in the same boat, customers giggling and cooing over work, and the friendliest bunch of traders you could ever hope to be alongside at a market!
The community side has been massive for me too. Running a small business can feel quite lonely sometimes, so finding other creative people who understand the chaos of packing stock at midnight, or surviving entirely on coffee and anxiety, has been really special.
I've made proper friends through CFM and had opportunities come from it that I never would have expected - including weddings, collaborations and festivals. It's such a supportive creative community and it really encourages people to lean into what makes their work unique. It's certainly helped me grow my confidence, and the portrait side of my work especially - I'm forever grateful for the opportunities and trust!
Alongside the colour yellow, swearing and animals, a theme that comes up a lot in your work is CHEESE! Can you share a recipe containing cheese that we could make in the time it takes you to do a 10-minute portrait?!
Absolutely. I mean, aside from inhaling a whole bag of Babybel - which I could probably do at an alarming rate - I think my go-to 10-minute cheese recipe is basically a lazy croque madame.
Toast two pieces of really good bread, slather with cream cheese, add ham, an alarming amount of strong cheddar, gruyère and edam, then grill until bubbling. Top with a fried egg, black pepper, and ideally eat immediately while standing in the kitchen because waiting is overrated. Technically it serves two. Emotionally it serves one.
Photo by Holly Booth
It’s been great to chat to you, Jo! Before we let you go, is there anything else you'd like to share about your business, or something exciting you have coming up?
This year feels like the start of a really exciting evolution for Hello Sunshine. Alongside markets and jewellery, I'm putting much more energy into live portraits at weddings, festivals and events, which has become one of my absolute favourite parts of the business. Not to sound like a cryptic lil' bitch, but a lot of stuff is happening behind the scenes - it's slow but intentional, and I'm genuinely excited about the next couple of years and seeing how my creative adventure pans out.
In a time when the world feels heavy enough already, I'm really enjoying creating work that encourages connection and playfulness. So if I can make someone laugh with a rude rosette, cry over a portrait of their dog, or proudly wear earrings shaped like pickles… then I reckon I'm doing alright
