Meet Kayleigh
Female Web Designer
and Squarespace Specialist
I am a web designer based in the London, UK and New York City, USA. I have 15+ years experience designing and building websites professionally, and have specialised exclusively in Squarespace since 2017.
You can find out a little more about my business ethos, how I got to where I am today and what makes me tick, below – or simply take a look at some of the websites I’ve built for small businesses worldwide in my portfolio.
Let’s start at the very beginning…
I came hurtling into the world a whole two-and-a-bit months ahead of schedule, on the night of the most devastating storm the UK has ever seen, to the surprise of everyone; especially my mother, who was rather concerned that she had only paid for an hour’s parking on the car. Once the doctors had broken the news to my parents that at just over 3lbs I was unlikely to survive the next 24 hours, they promptly named me – like so many other British girls born in the mid–late 80s – after Marillion’s greatest (only?) ever hit: Kayleigh.
I like to think that the circumstances of my birth are responsible for my penchant for a dramatic entrance, aversion to tardiness, wilful determination, appreciation of 80s pop culture and love of a good guitar solo. But maybe it’s just a coincidence.
Needless to say, I pulled through and defied the doctors’ expectations. My Dad recovered from the shock. My Mum got her parking ticket rescinded. The storm damage was repaired. All was well.
Skip forward a decade or three from the original story. I’m supposedly all grown up but still only 5’ 2”. They call me petite, but I prefer fun-sized.
When I’m not working, I can be found of an evening at the theatre, ballet, a museum, or just curled up at home with a good book. If it’s daytime, you’ll find me staying active, curating my recipe collection, or devouring pretty much any source of knowledge I can get my hands on. I'm an introvert at heart and relish life's little pleasures like having the house to myself, daily bubblebaths and going back for second helpings of dessert.
I love watching documentaries, and 80s movies; reading novels written before I was born while trying not to dance along to my AirPods in public; petting stranger’s dogs; eating my own bodyweight in pizza; and then burning it off again in the gym. I’m very much right-handed but shoot (hockey), surf, snowboard, use cutlery, and play guitar as if I’m a lefty.
Nowadays, I’m based primarily in London but call the USA an unofficial second home. I left the 9-5 because I found that working for someone else often led me to have to compromise my principles or work in a way that opposed my true nature. Running my own business online means I’m able to set my own working hours and ensure a healthy work-life balance. I’m also able to spend more time on the things that are meaningful to me, whether that means having time to volunteer, visit friends and family abroad, take an extended vacation or just clear my head with some time in nature.
Most importantly, I know I’m working every day for a company that reflects my values and operates with integrity.
A little peek behind the scenes
A small girl with big ideas.
I’ve been building websites professionally for 20 years but seven years ago, I started my own business focusing solely on Squarespace.
It is my platform of choice, as it enables my clients to use their easy DIY drag-and-drop, point-and-click interface to look after their website themselves once I’ve designed it. I’m always here to lend a hand if you need it, but my websites are built to be yours. I don’t keep you tied in to a monthly retainer or charge for every tiny edit you need to make to your opening hours, team bios or pricing! I absolutely believe you should be able to alter text and images, upload projects to your portfolio, add blog posts and even run an online store - as and when you want.
I also believe in honesty and transparency – my services are sold all all-inclusive packages. Do you know exactly what’s included and what you’ll pay upfront, and I’m able to hone down my processes to a tee, to make the experience of working together as smooth as possible.
With years of experience in designing and building websites, and a few college credits to boot, it’s fair to say I know a thing or two about what makes a digital home stand-out from the crowd. I create beautiful, functional, mobile-responsive websites, mainly for solo entrepreneurs and small-to-medium businesses. I develop my sites with each individual customer and business in mind, using custom code injection such as HTML, CSS, and Javascript to develop a website that is truly yours in terms of both look, structure and functionality.
But I’m not about following the latest web design trends just for the sake of it or making your website so filled with flashy animation that it almost induces a headache.
I'm incredibly empathetic, sensitive and intuitive. I pride myself on being able to build a genuine connection with my clients and create a website that perfectly reflects their business’ values and unique personality, in turn allowing them to organically attract more of their ideal customers.
Your website should be your hardest working employee. It brings in the clients, never takes a break or a sick day and is hard at work promoting you while you're working with another client, on the school run, on vacation, walking the dog or with your feet up in front of Netflix.
I’m passionate about figuring out what your website can do more of and thinking a little outside the box. If we work together, be prepared for me to ask "What if...?"
FUN FACT #1
I’ve called London, Chicago, Manchester, Jerusalem, Liverpool and NYC home. But I’m not an avid traveller, I just feel at home in more places than most.
FUN FACT#2
I’m on a lifetime mission to see all of the major international ballet companies perform in their home venue. Paris, Sydney and St. Petersburg are left to tick off!
FUN FACT #3
I’ve worked backstage or behind-the-scenes at Hamilton, The Lion King, Netflix’s The Crown, Avenue Q and a host of other Broadway and West End plays & musicals, TV shows and movies.
Let’s Talk
If you need a new website, some help with Squarespace customisation, or are interested in purchasing a premium template – feel free to be in touch or check out my detailed services pages.
However, please be aware that I’m not looking to collaborate, hire, or endorse any products at the moment.