The Polished Portfolio Method.

The Polished Portfolio Method.

Stop waiting for the “perfect” time to make your portfolio. Let’s build it together in 4 weeks!

Proven system trusted by surface pattern designers.

This isn’t just another method you’ll binge and forget.

It’s a repeatable system you’ll use for every portfolio you create in your career.

Designed to take you from overwhelmed and second-guessing… to confidently holding a finished, professional, client-ready portfolio you’re proud to share.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

  • Pinterest for surface pattern designers workshop

    Curate your designs

    Curate and organise your designs with confidence (even if you only have a handful)

  • Pinterest for surface pattern designers course

    Organize your work

    Turn messy files into a polished, professional, client-ready portfolio, so it’s easy for art directors to navigate

  • Pinterest for surface pattern designers course

    Avoid portfolio mistakes

    You’ll learn exactly what to leave out, what to highlight, and how to present your work so art directors see your best designs, without the common missteps that make portfolios fall flat

By the end of this program, you won’t just have a polished, professional portfolio in hand, you’ll have the confidence of knowing your work is presented clearly, cohesively, and in a way that art directors actually want to see.

Imagine the relief of finally being able to close your laptop at the end of the day knowing, yes, my portfolio is ready!

Ashleigh Fish - surface pattern designer - course creator - Pinterest user 
before this method

you might be unsure how to turn your artwork into a portfolio that actually gets noticed by brands

  • Your designs are sitting in random folders, half-finished collections, or scattered across your hard drive.

  • You second-guess every piece, wondering if you even have “enough” art to create a portfolio.

  • You’re overwhelmed by tech, feeling like you need more time or confidence first

  • Secretly worry you’re not good enough yet, and you’ll do it once you find your signature style

But imagine if you could…

  • - 01 -

    Create a portfolio that feels polished and professional.

    Finally see your designs curated and organised in a way that highlights your style, without second-guessing what belongs. Imagine opening your portfolio and knowing it’s something you’d be proud to send to your dream brand tomorrow.

  • - 02 -

    Feel confident in what you’re sharing.

    No more wondering if you’ve included the “right” pieces. Your portfolio will feel cohesive, complete, and ready to show, so instead of hiding your work, you’ll actually be excited to share it with the right people.

  • - 03 -

    Know your portfolio is ready to impress art directors.


    Imagine opening your inbox to a reply from a brand you admire, because your portfolio showed them exactly what they needed to see. That’s the power of a polished portfolio.

the polished portfolio method

Introducing
you need this because

You don’t need more art to start!
You need a polished portfolio that makes the most of the art you already have.

The #1 reason surface pattern designers get stuck is waiting until they “feel ready.” But here’s the truth: you don’t need hundreds of designs or a signature style.

You just need a clear process to polish what you already have and package it in a way that brands actually want to see.

00 Days
00 Hours
00 Minutes
00 Seconds

Until enrolment opens

for busy surface pattern designers

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for busy surface pattern designers / 

What You'll Find Inside

my 4 step portfolio method

  • Step 1: Curate with Confidence

    Learn how to choose your strongest work (even if you only have a handful of designs). You’ll discover how to showcase your unique style while keeping it cohesive and professional.

  • Step 2: Organize Like a Pro

    Say goodbye to messy files and random folders that take ages to navigate. I’ll walk you through a clear system to organise your artwork so creating a portfolio for art directors and brands to browse feels effortless.

  • Step 3: Design & Tech Made Simple

    No more tech headaches. Whether you use Canva, Adobe InDesign, or your chosen platform, I’ll show you step by step how to build your portfolio without needing fancy skills or expensive software.

  • Step 4: Pitch-Ready Polish

    This is where it all comes together. You’ll refine your portfolio, avoid the common mistakes that hold designers back, and walk away with a finished, professional, client-ready portfolio you are excited to share with confidence.

what are you waiting for?

what are you waiting for?

  • To feel “ready”?

    You might never feel 100% ready. Imposter syndrome has a sneaky way of convincing you to wait until your work feels perfect, except perfection doesn’t exist.

    And while you’re waiting for that magical moment, your portfolio isn’t getting built… and your dream opportunities are passing you by.

    The only way to quiet the doubt is through action. With a clear framework to follow, every small step builds confidence, and progress will always take you further than perfection ever could.

  • A signature style or a bigger body of work?

    Developing a signature style can take years, and it will keep evolving as you grow. And you don’t need hundreds of designs to get started.

    Even a small collection, when curated the right way, can look polished, professional, and client-ready.

    What matters most isn’t more art or the perfect style. It’s how you present the work you already have. That’s exactly what I’ll show you inside The Polished Portfolio Method.

  • “the right time”?

    More time. Older kids. Less chaos.

    But here’s the truth: there will never be a perfect time to start.

    When I created my first portfolio, I had a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old, limited childcare, and I was working in the evenings (when/if the kids actually slept).

    And that first portfolio? It landed me multiple licensing deals.

    The right time isn’t someday, it’s now. And I’ll show you how to make it doable, even in the middle of real life.

Think of it like this:

your designs go from scattered and sitting unseen on your hard drive
↓
a polished, client-ready portfolio you’re proud to share.

Here are the topics we will cover

  • The polished portfolio method

    Curating with Confidence

    How to choose your strongest designs (even if you only have a handful) and highlight your unique style.

  • The polished portfolio method

    Creating Cohesion

    Tips to make your designs feel like a collection, even if your style is still evolving.

  • The polished portfolio method

    Organizing Like a Pro

    Simple systems to take scattered files and turn them into a streamlined, professional portfolio.

  • The polished portfolio method

    Design + Tech Made Simple

    Step-by-step walkthroughs for putting your portfolio together, without needing fancy tools or advanced design programs.

  • The polished portfolio method

    Avoiding Common Mistakes

    The pitfalls most designers don’t realize they’re making (and how to fix them so your portfolio stands out).

  • The polished portfolio method

    Polishing for Impact

    Refining, reviewing, and presenting your portfolio so you feel proud and confident sending it out to brands.

I’ve designed this method to be doable, even if you’re short on time or confidence. If you follow the steps, you’ll have a professional, client-ready portfolio by the end, no guessing, no overwhelm.

Enroll Now + Get These bonuses

To Make This Even Better…

  • Professional Mockups (Wallpaper, Fabric + Stationery)

    Bring your designs to life with 3 high-quality Creatsy mockups. Show clients exactly how your designs look in the real world, because nothing sells your work faster than visuals they can imagine on their products.

  • My File Organization System

    No more messy folders or lost files. Steal my exact system for organizing designs by collection so everything is ready to drop into your portfolio.

  • Portfolio + Sell Sheet Templates (Canva + InDesign)

    Skip the overwhelm and save hours with ready-to-use templates. Whether you prefer Canva or InDesign, I’ve got you covered (including sell sheets), so you can pitch with confidence when the time comes.

See what’s possible…

I successfully created my first portfolio as a busy mom - Colleen.

I successfully created my first portfolio as a busy mom - Colleen.

  • I loved how supportive and helpful you were with all of us!

    Ashleigh is so generous with her time! She is very active in the course community and makes sure that everyone has their questions answered and feels supported! Live calls with her feel very comfortable -- like you're talking to a friend who is offering wisdom and insights from their own lived experiences.

    Emily

  • artist testimonial for Ashleigh Fish's Pinterest course

    I'm so glad I found Ashleigh when I did.

    One of my goals this year was to create a porfolio so I can start pitching my work with confidence. Ashleigh's course has helped me do that, not just from the information she presents but also with her willingness to be transparent about her own journey.

    Although my portfolio is not finished yet, I am well on my way to finishing my first one.

    Laura C

  • Just do it, it is time and money well spent from a tutor artist who has the experience and knowledge.

    Investing in Ashleigh’s portfolio course is one of the best investments I took. Support has been consistent both from the community and Ashleigh. The templates have been super helpful, saving me time to implement work on my art and business.

    Sarah

  • Clarity comes only with action and Ashleigh helps you to take action.

    This is a wonderful course for anyone getting started with surface pattern design and wants to get their work licensed.

    Ashleigh holds your hand and takes your through each step. She is very active in the community. She not only answered each and every question asked on the community but created bonus resources based on the questions asked which were so helpful.

    Anuja

  • Do not hesitate this course worth its every dollar and will open new possibilities and will go far to your expectations

    I am so happy to have taken this course! 💖Ashleigh is answering all questions and have a systems which works for everybody even me with twin babies I managed to follow the steps and I feel so proud to designed my first portfolio! I can not wait to share and pitch to companies ✨

    Stella

opens october 14th

Join the waitlist

Starting Monday October 27th we will dive into 4 weeks together in this live round of The Polished Portfolio Method.
*This may be the only live round I do.

  • Q & A

    Weekly Calls

    No need to worry if you can’t make it live, all calls are recorded and questions can be presubmitted

  • Community

    Private Discord Community.

    Our own private community, perfect for getting your questions answered over the next 5 weeks

  • 5 Weeks

    From October 27th until November 23rd

    We have 5 amazing weeks together, let’s do this!

for busy artists and designers

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for busy artists and designers /

Is this you? Let’s find out…

This Method Is For You If…

  • You’re second-guessing what to include in your portfolio and stuck in analysis paralysis.

  • You feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

  • The thought of tech + layouts makes you want to quit before you begin.

  • You’ve got designs sitting in folders but no system to pull them together.

  • You keep waiting to “feel ready” before putting yourself out there.

  • You want step-by-step guidance, not fluff or overwhelm.

This Method Is not For You If…

  • You don’t have any finished artwork yet.

  • You’re looking for tutorials on how to make designs (this is about presenting the art you already have).

  • You’re not interested in licensing your work or working with brands.

  • You want someone to build your portfolio for you, this is a guided process you’ll implement.

  • You’re not ready to take action and prefer to keep “waiting until someday”.

  • You’re only after a quick shortcut, not a framework you can reuse as your portfolio grows.

Ashleigh Fish - licensed artist and surface pattern designer 
Meet your mentor

Hey, I’m Ashleigh Fish, artist, surface pattern designer, educator, and your biggest cheerleader.

I actually started out studying education with plans to become a teacher, but life had other ideas. Travel, motherhood, and a creative spark led me down a different path, one that turned into my true passion: surface pattern design.

Since then, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with brands like RJR Fabrics, Alice & Ames, Sand + Fog, Hawthorne Supply Co., and Loomwell, seeing my hand-painted patterns come to life on fabric, clothing, and home goods.

And now? I’m here to help you do the same.

Inside The Polished Portfolio Method, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about building a portfolio that doesn’t just look beautiful, it actually gets noticed by the clients you want to work with. My goal is to make the process feel simple, encouraging, and doable, so you can take confident steps toward your dream collaborations.

Let’s build something beautiful together.

See workshop results in numbers.

  • 100%

    would recommend this method

  • 30+

    Lessons & Tutorials

  • 100%

    5 Star Reviews

In their own words…

In their own words… 

Picture yourself in this!

  • Frances

    “How it was broken down into easily achievable steps, and this helped encourage me to get the work done between modules. You were also great at getting back to people with answers to their questions which helped them move along through the course. Great to see so many people complete their first portfolio!“

  • Sarah

    “I now believe I can put together a beautiful portfolio with the guidance I had using the various software I have, having previously struggled.“

  • Colleen

    “I am a busy mom and new artist/surface pattern designer. During the course I successfully created my first portfolio. I can see myself using the skills I learned in this course for many years..“

  • Astrid

    “Loved your course. I just want to thank you for this amazing learning experience.“

If you want the same results

The polished portfolio method

takes your designs from scattered and sitting unseen on your hard drive → a polished, client-ready portfolio you’re proud to share!

The wins I love to celebrate!

  • Pinterest for surface designers student Ines Lily

    It has given me the framework and confidence to approach business to pitch my designs

    Thank you so much Ashleigh for teaching us how to create a portfolio in a methodical and non-overwhelming manner – it’s been on my list of things to do for such a long time and I am delighted that over the course of the four weeks I was able to compile – and publish online! - my very first portfolio.  Your never-ending wisdom, patience and guidance were invaluable in this process, and I’m now confident I can continue creating engaging portfolios into the future.

    Frances

  • It felt overwhelming before and now it seems easy

    This course not only helped me build a beautiful and cohesive portfolio, but it also gave me ideas for improving my website and planning next steps. What once felt overwhelming was broken down into manageable, actionable steps.

    By the end of week three, my portfolio was ready to go. I didn’t just learn what to include and how to design it — I also learned how to organize my files so the process is smooth and efficient. And the last module is all about starting to sharing it: how to pitch your portfolio, showcase it on social media, and even present it effectively on Pinterest.

    If you're feeling stuck or unsure where to begin, this course is exactly the support you need.

    Astrid

  • Anastasia Pinterest for surface patten designers course student

    I absolutely loved this course!

    Ashleigh is incredibly generous with her knowledge and feedback—she offers kind, thoughtful, and personalized guidance that truly helps you move forward.

    What I appreciated most was how she broke this journey into clear, actionable steps and made the entire process easy to follow. Creating a portfolio finally felt doable—and even exciting!

    For the first time ever, I’ve created a professional licensing portfolio geared toward the stationery and surface design industry. The tools and hacks she shared took away the overwhelm I’ve felt for years.

    The content was not only helpful but also beautifully designed and easy to digest. If you’ve been thinking you are not ready and procrastinating on building your portfolio or stepping into the licensing world, this course is 100% for you!

    Anastasia M

  • Ashleigh has created a truly enjoyable and well-structured course.

    Both the content and the pacing are thoughtfully designed. While some parts require careful consideration and decision-making, the course is very manageable — especially if you’ve already created some designs. It helps you take the next step: building a professional and personal portfolio.

    Ashleigh’s approach is hands-on and practical. You make progress every week, without feeling overwhelmed. One of the great things about this course is that you don’t need a huge number of designs to create a curated and cohesive portfolio. There’s plenty of flexibility — your portfolio can evolve over time, and you’re encouraged to update and refine it as you go

    Ashleigh is approachable, open to all your questions, and genuinely wants to help you move forward.

    Philo

  • Ashleigh’s teaching style is supportive, friendly and backed up by years of experience.

    She is very generous with her time, taking care to answer everyone’s questions in live Q&As or within the Discord community.

    Her experience of building up her own successful surface design business means she has lots of knowledge about what works and she is very generous with sharing all of her advice and tips.

    I particularly enjoyed seeing Ashleigh’s real life portfolio examples of what she created when starting out versus how she creates them now. She provided super feedback to members’ portfolios to help them improve and even provided some bonus content - thank you so much Ashleigh!

    Rebecca

  • This course is an excellent investment of your time and money if you are not sure how to go about creating a portfolio and you are putting it off because you feel unsure or overwhelmed.

    Ashleigh went above and beyond the classrooms' expectations. She was available to answer any questions, provided excellent templates and mockups, taught everything in bite-sized chunks that kept us organized and moving forward with no overwhelm.

    She truly wanted us to be successful with creating a beautiful portfolio, but she also wanted to make sure we were prepared to move forward with marketing and pitching them after the class.

    Vicki

STUDENT FEEDBACK

It is well worth the investment.

You don’t make any money doing nothing with your work.

FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

  • Nope! You don’t need hundreds of designs. Even a small collection can become a polished portfolio when curated the right way. I’ll show you how to work with what you already have.

  • This course isn’t about making the art, it’s about presenting the art you already have in a professional way. I do provide Canva + InDesign templates to make the process simple, but I won’t be teaching design programs from scratch.

  • Not at all. Developing a style can take years (and it will keep evolving). You don’t need to wait to start sharing your work. I’ll teach you how to create cohesion and present your designs confidently, no matter where you are in your journey.

  • The course is designed to be completed in about 4 weeks, with short, focused lessons and actionable steps. You can absolutely go at your own pace, but if you can dedicate even a few hours each week, you’ll have your portfolio ready by the end of the month.

  • Yes! The course includes easy-to-follow video tutorials plus done-for-you templates (in Canva and InDesign). You don’t need advanced tech skills, I’ve made this process as simple and stress-free as possible.

  • You’re not alone! This is one of the most common challenges surface pattern designers face. The truth is, there’s no magic number of designs you “must” have. A cohesive, well-curated portfolio with even a small selection of your best work will always be more impressive than a large, overwhelming one.

    Inside The Polished Portfolio Method, I’ll walk you step-by-step through how to select and organize your designs so your portfolio feels polished, professional, and client-ready, without second-guessing what belongs.

  • No, this course is all about building your polished portfolio. If you’re ready for pitching, I have a separate program that covers exactly how to reach out to brands with confidence.

  • You won’t be left on your own. You’ll have access to weekly live Q&As and a community where you can get your questions answered and extra support from me directly.

  • Because this is a digital program with immediate access to all materials, refunds aren’t available. But I believe in this process 100%, and if you do the work, you’ll have a finished, client-ready portfolio by the end.

  • You’ll get lifetime access to the course materials. That means you can revisit the lessons and templates anytime you want to refresh or rebuild your portfolio.

    The community runs for 5 weeks so you have an extra week at the end!

  • Yes! By the end of the course, you’ll have a polished, professional portfolio that you feel proud to share. You’ll know exactly what to include, how to organize it, and how to avoid the common mistakes that hold designers back.

    If you want to learn how to pitch your portfolio I have a separate program that covers exactly how to reach out to brands with confidence.

  • Nope! You don’t need full collections to build a portfolio. In fact, waiting until you’ve created “enough” collections is one of the biggest things that keeps designers stuck. Inside The Polished Portfolio Method, I’ll show you how to curate and present the work you already have, whether it’s single designs, a few coordinating pieces, or small groups, so it looks polished, professional, and ready to share.

in their own words…

Just go for it! You won’t regret the decision, Ashleigh makes sure to cover all bases with her teaching and support so that no one feels left behind or unsure. The fact that you have access to all the course content forever means you will keep coming back again and again as there is so much useful information packed in that will have a huge positive impact on your creative business.

Still on the fence?
Worst case, you’re out of $.
Best case…
you finally have a polished, professional portfolio that gets your work in front of the clients you dream of.

Ashleigh Fish - surface pattern design and Pinterest course educator

Have a question without an answer?
I’m here to help, just ask!

I asked my students…
“How do you feel about creating a portfolio now compared to when you began”?

and they said

I feel capable when before it felt impossible.

More confident.

Definitely more prepared!

I'm definitely comfortable now thanks to your insights and lessons.

I feel much more confident about the process now.

Completely doable. Learned to organize files and make the preparation work beforehand made the creating of portfolio an easy task.

The course definitely lowered the hurdle for making a next one.

Much more confident! I’m so excited to finish a collection so that I can create a portfolio.

When I came into the course, the idea of creating my portfolio was overwhelming and I kept putting it off, but after taking the course, not only do I have a completed portfolio, ready for pitching, but I also feel completely capable of creating new ones as needed for each industry I'm reaching out to.

I feel more confident as I now know the dos and don’ts of the industry.

Much more confident knowing the steps and having a system which works.

Very comfortable! I know exactly how to focus on a collection and industry. It also helped me to have a different perspective on my art style and branding.