I left my well -paid product management work to become a full -time artist

I started my business career in the data and then transferred Product management in technology.

Managing my own creative business was a goal that I have always kept in the background – something I hoped, but I did not always believe. In the past year, I carried out a few quarters of work that helped me develop a personal passion in a sustainable company.

In April, after eight years of work in the business world, I left my £ 550, or about $ 750, per day, a product management contract to become a full -time artist.

Now, I work from my new studio, director a profitable creative business, and finally spend more time doing what has started all this – painting.

Financing of my creative business through contractual work

After taking a voluntary redundancyLeaving a full -time job in the summer of 2025, and taking a few months to travel, I went to contractual work for a retail company.

I only had four weeks of notice. This freedom allowed me to develop my creative things on the side, validate the request and go on my own conditions when the time had come.

Apart from my contract work, I painted and I gradually started to shape the operational side in something more structured. I had always loved painting, but I reconnected after taking an art class in London shortly after obtaining my university diploma, and that continued as a personal hobby.

Invest in myself

In February, I decided to finance and execute my own solo exhibition. It was a risk, both financially and creatively. I had never done anything like this before, but I felt that it was the right time to give my art the attention it deserved.

This exhibition was a turning point for me – I sold four paintings in a month. It gave me the traction I needed, but more importantly, it gave me confidence to fully engage in this career.

Within 10 weeks of exposure, I made the transition to work as a full -time artist.

Growth scale

In April, I made more than £ 16,000 in income from my artistic activity, a mixture of original works and a large proportion of printed sales.

I migrated my Shopify website in 2025 and joined a partner printed on demand, allowing me to automate printing orders from start to finish. This meant higher costs and a new short -term learning curve, but ultimately released my time and allowed me to rationalize my manual processes.

Today, printed sales contribute significantly to my income and continue to generate passive incomeEven when I'm offline. The rest of my income comes from the original commissions.

A / B test for creatives

I discovered Instagram ‘trial reels‘Functionality, which allows creators to test new content before sharing it. It looked like A / B tests, which I had done for years in product management.

I experienced different content, visual adjusted and monitored performance. I used the same state of mind that I had as a product manager, but now I used these same tools to develop my creative audience.

It took a while to learn what worked, but once I found my rhythm, it all started to evolve. In the past 30 days, my Instagram content has raised views of 5.3 million.

I even had Meta tending my hand to organize a call because I joined it so regularly on the platform. Before a long time, I had to close the registration list for the commissions and put a break on my waiting list.

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When I knew it was time to stop

More importantly for me that a number of income was consistency – it was no longer a stampede. I had systems in place, enough traction to continue growing and clarity on my goals.

As I am based in the United Kingdom, health insurance was not a concern for me, and I continued with my monthly savings and investment networks for home ownership.

What is life like now

May was my first full month as a full -time artist. I moved into a new studio and I finally have space to work on the scale and at the rate I always wanted.

My days are always structured, but the work is completely different from my past career, and above all I build something that is entirely mine.

Everything I learned about technology came with me. I manage my artistic activity in the same way as I worked in technology: often test, itezrez quickly, automation what you can and focus on the value of the value of customers. But now I feel like I have completed the loop and finally devote more time to paint – The reason I started this first.

What I learned

My career pivot taught me a lot.

1. Creativity does not have to be chaotic. Even when my business was small, I treated it as a business – invest in systems, test ideas and use data to develop.
2. Take advantage of existing skills. My technological history helped me automate processes, test ideas and assess new opportunities.
3. Create your own opportunities. Rather than waiting for permission, I self -financed a solo exhibition that has gained momentum and solidified my belief in what I was doing.
4. Change does not require dissatisfaction. I appreciated my career in technology but I wanted more autonomy and a new challenge.
5. I did not wait for the perfect timing. I waited until I had a real traction, then I made a clear and considered outing.

The transition of a business career to creative entrepreneurship does not occur overnight

It takes time to learn, adjust and make the right movements at the right time.

In September, I go to Florence to study art, and I also plan my next exhibition in London.

This summer, my goal is to continue to rely on the growing demand for my work by launching drops printed in a limited edition – and by selling them ideally – and starting to sell my original parts for £ 10,000 and more.

I am grateful for my previous career and the invaluable skills it has offered – the skills that I continue to use to manage my creative business today.

Do you have a story to share on the transformation of a side jostling into a full-time concert? Contact this publisher at lhaas@businessinsider.com.