The Drawing Donkey: Building A Brand

The Drawing Donkey began with a single, transformative moment. It became a brand through consistency, restraint, and long-term thinking.

Years ago, while living remotely and working in tourism, I met legendary artist Timothy Brooke at a lunch in a wheat field. I timidly showed him photos of my pencil sketches. Instead of brushing them aside, he invited me to his studio.

A year later, I took him up on that invitation.

In his forest-set studio, Tim asked me to draw a mango still life. I reached for a sharp pencil. Within minutes, it was clear I didn’t know how to begin, and equally clear that it didn’t matter. Tim reworked my hesitant lines with bold pastel strokes. Watching him, something shifted. That day changed how I saw art. Without it, I doubt I would ever have pursued it seriously.

Using his measurements and sketch, I built my own bench easel, the original Drawing Donkey. Years later, I created a company. The name came first; the philosophy followed. Eventually, the real donkeys arrived.

Tim passed away in 2022. I now work from his H-frame easel and think of him with deep gratitude every time I paint.

Branding Begins Before the Logo

The Drawing Donkey is not just about painting, it’s how I work.

Long before there was a logo, product range, or website, there was a way of showing up. To me, The Drawing Donkey represented steadiness, humility, and continuing even when the outcome was unclear.

I’ve learnt that branding isn’t what you add at the end, it’s what you practice daily, long before anything is visible.

When it came time to design the logo, the donkey emerged naturally, unpretentious and resilient. I sketched the donkey head to fit a circular mark, and following my brief, Camilla McConnell brought it to life.

When Branding Meets Reality

Branding is easy to talk about when creativity flows. It becomes real when overheads, taxes, materials (and dogs and donkeys) need paying.

I say I’m an artist, but primarily I am a small business owner. My work must sell, sustain itself, and grow. Commission work, often detailed and controlled, funded the business, letting me invest, plan, and return to expressive work on my own terms. Doing work that pays isn’t a compromise, it’s a long-term strategy.

A Brand Built on Intention, Not Ego

From the start, I didn’t want a personality-led brand. I wanted something quieter, durable, and able to exist beyond me.

The Drawing Donkey is built on intention with careful planning, steady effort, and long-term thinking. Wins are acknowledged without ego, and failures absorbed without derailment.

This approach shapes every decision: what I make, what I paint, how often I release work, and what I decline. Everything is done to a plan, not a rigid one, but a considered one.

When I paint, the immediate goal may be to sell the original work, but brand thinking extends further, into products, collaborations, and cohesive collections, extending the lifespan and reach of each piece without diluting its meaning.

When a Brand Gives Back

At a recent craft fair, someone said, “I love this brand.” That moment mattered. It confirmed years of quiet effort.

2026 is the Year of the Horse (I like to think donkey). It feels right to let the brand do some good beyond my studio.

In January 2026, I’ll launch a Donkey Wheel Cover, with 50% of profits donated to The Brooke (Action for Working Horses and Donkeys). Full details of the preorder and early access will be shared via my newsletter, along with a closer look at the wheel cover and how donations help The Brooke… and the donkeys.

Keep an eye out for the January launch.... and, Happy Holidays!!

With love and paint,
Annick xox
The Drawing Donkey