Rebecca Cahill Roots, 36, is a co-founder of a London-based stationery brand and design studio that celebrates ‘the power of putting pen to paper.’

Betty Etiquette was the brainchild of Rebecca and her husband, David. After enrolling in a year-long business course in 2015, the concept became a business. Rebecca will be at The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace in September. Ahead of the event, Rebecca spoke about Betty Etiquette.

HOW DID YOU LEARN CALLIGRAPHY AND WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO DEVELOP YOUR PASSION FOR IT?

The power of creativity and craft was something my parents championed and that had been passed down from their own parents. My love of lettering started when I was really young. My dad had a book about The Book of Kells and I remember finding it on the shelf and sitting pouring over it, looking at the letters and illuminated illustrations. My little brother and I used to spend hours copying out the letters, using sweet wrappers to make our own versions of the pictures. I was fascinated in the process and the way that my hand was able to copy the same letters made centuries earlier by someone else’s hand.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING PRIOR TO BETTY ETIQUETTE?

I used to work behind the scenes in theatre for years but missed creating things with my hands so began to build up a portfolio of lettering designs for stationery products in the evenings and at weekends. In 2015 I went part-time and enrolled in a year-long business course that helped turn my product ideas into a business plan. I built up a range of stationery and prints and started to do craft fairs and tradeshows.

I slowly started to pick up wholesale orders; more private commissions, logo design work and then I launched my first range of lettering workshops. I was then able to take the leap to working full time for Betty Etiquette.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK NOW?

There is something utterly magical about a bit of handwriting, whether it be an ornate piece of formal calligraphy or a just a quick postcard. It’s like a little work of art made by an individual’s hands, acting like a little time capsule, capturing that person’s mood and rhythms of the day.

I have also been lucky enough to meet amazing people on my creative journey that have enabled me to go on and be stocked in stores all over the world, teach workshops at places like the Victoria and Albert Museum and Liberty and have the amazing opportunity to write a craft workbook – called Modern Lettering.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER BENEFITS OF DOING CREATIVE HOBBIES?

In recent years there have been more and more links between crafting and making with positive mental health. Personally, I have a tricky and long history with the effect of poor mental health. My mother is bipolar, and I lost a friend to suicide in my youth. I campaign and advocate for more conversation and greater understanding of the complex scale of good or bad mental health. I know that through my own experiences, art and craft in many different forms can offer a positive and safe physical outlet for expression, which has a restorative effect, but can also create communities and networks of support that can improve mental health.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ABOUT THE HANDMADE FAIR?

I am really looking forward to the Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace and being surrounded by so many talented and inspiring creative people. From the participants that I meet in my workshops to the ridiculously talented stallholders in the shopping area, the place is buzzing with ideas, colour and creative energy. I can’t wait to teach the brush lettering workshops each day.

The Handmade Fair is the ‘ultimate creative day out, providing visitors with the very best making and crafting experience in the UK’. This year the event is hosted by Kirstie Allsopp and designer & upcycler, Max McMurdo,

Tickets are now on sale. Visit www.thehandmadefair.com/hampton-court for more information.