After 10 wonderful years of using her hand drawn illustrations, poetry and verse to share messages of encouragement with her community, Anita Wishart has decided to bid her customers a very fond farewell.
The Armagh woman, who was raised in Markethill, was born into a family deeply rooted in all things craft.
Her first job as a teenager was in the family business that once stood on Thomas Street, Orchard’s Sew, Knit and Craft, and it was there she developed an appreciation of what it meant to be part of an independent business in the Orchard County.
Anita noticed around her a tight-knit community of business owners and customers who whole-heartedly supported each other and fostered a sense of community.
So, when she went into business for herself many years later, she took those teachings and pushed them one step further.
What started life as ‘Doodles by Needi’ – her nickname – became ‘Anita Wishart’, also a play on her name and profession, but symbolising a bolder step in taking complete ownership of her work.
She specialised in “little cartoon doodles of people”, calendars, prints, cards and wedding invitations that were at all times led by her customers and a desire to “connect” with people.
In those ten years, however, life has changed for Anita and after moving house in September she said walking into her new studio space one morning just made her realise that she “was done”.
The Wishart family business on Thomas Street
Speaking to Armagh I, Anita explained: “It just feels done and I’m finished and it’s good to be able to finish and celebrate it.
“There’s a saying that when you come to the last page, close the book and I felt like I had come to the last page.
“I did what I needed to do with it and for me it was very much about connecting with people, giving people encouragement and one of my things I talked about was giving beauty, connect with people and bring inspiration and speak a truer story.”
And, while the end of the chapter has an underlaying sadness, Anita is positive about her future, speaking of her “excitement” and overwhelming sense of gratitude to those who have supported her.
Speaking with fondness for her time at Wright’s Studio Café, whose owner was hugely supportive of Anita’s work, she added: “I loved Wright’s. We met a lot of customers who were business owners as well and my boss really encouraged me with the art and she got me to do drawings for their afternoon tea and introduced me to different people and always plugged my work.
“There is such a good network in Armagh. It’s one of the best cities. I have a friend in Bangor and she loves to come to Armagh to get around the shops because they are independent stores and she can find something different here.
“My favourite thing in terms of my business in the last two years was that I was able to do a pop-up shop on Scotch Street with the church that I go to, Armagh Vineyard, and they let me use their building on Georgian Day in 2023 and in 2024.
Anita at her pop-up shop with Armagh City Vineyard Church on Scotch Street
“The customers have kept the business going, it wasn’t me being a good business person. They came back again and again.
“One of the things I did for eight years was an inspirational calendar. For each month there is a word for the month and there would be an illustration created around that word and then I have a guide of Bible verses, worship songs and a prayer for people to connect with if they want to.
“People really got behind it and it had just grown and grown. Everyone is devastated that it’s finished and I think that stands out, that people have blown me away with just how supportive they have been.
“God has used it in different ways to reach out to people. There’s loads of connections I have made with artists and crafters.
“Thanks also to local printers; Graphic Answers in Tandragee, Instant Print in Armagh and a huge thanks to my friend Charis for her help with graphic design, creative advice and encouragement.
“Then Lottie and Rosie’s owner, Cheryl and I went to youth club together years and years ago. She contacted me when she was talking about starting the business to do her logo to represent her daughters, Charlotte and Martha Rose.
“So even though I’m finished, there is still that wee hint that continues because my artwork is on her logo.”
Anita is in the process of winding down her business and will continue her farewell sale with 60% off everything, except original artwork, until all stock has been sold.
Moving forward, Anita is very much looking forward to some free time and plans to continue building her connections locally: “I’m so excited to have moved back into the city and I’m just looking at white walls so for now I will be doing the house up and focussing on my 9 to 5, and I’ll continue to invest in Armagh as much as possible with my community and my church.”
Check out Anita Wishart’s farewell sale here.
