​​I’m Hollie, I'm an award-winning, multidisciplinary Creative Director with 15+ years experience creating concepts, garnering media attention and repositioning brands big and small.  I'm the founder of We Are Shelance, a global network of female freelance creatives.

My career has taken me from London to NYC, where I’ve worked at ad agencies, PR agencies, production companies, as well as with start-ups, and direct to client. My work covers art direction, creative concepts, campaign development, brand voice, and copy. While I specialise in creative concepts, I am experienced in both art direction and copy, managing teams across categories including everything from beauty, haircare, tech, healthcare to consumer packaged goods and much more.

I believe in today's media landscape, great ideas have to earn attention, not expect it. Which is why I specialize in creating modern cultural and talkable ideas, and not just advertising.

My work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, Clio Image Awards, The Webbys and BIMAs.
​
Lastly and most proudly, I’m the founder of Books on the Subway and Books on the Underground, now a global book sharing initiative. Speaker at Simon & Schuster Digital Innovation Festival, Penguin Random House Influencer event and panelist at Chicago Ideas.

EXPERIENCE
​FREELANCE CREATIVE DIRECTOR  |  July 2022 - Present
Strawberry Frog  /  160over90  /  Lippe Taylor  /  Pray Tell  / ​ Convicts  /  DeVries Global  /  Golin  /  The Brooklyn Brothers  /  Good Work

CREATIVE DIRECTOR @ BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS, NYC  |  Jan 2021 - July 2022

​CREATIVE DIRECTOR @ MMC, NYC  |  Jan 2017 - Jan 2021

​ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR @ GREY, NYC | Dec 2015 - Dec 2016

SENIOR ​CREATIVE @ LEO BURNETT, LDN  |  Nov 2011 - Nov 2015

​CREATIVE @ RAZORFISH, LDN  |  July 2011 - October 2011

​CREATIVE @ ​20:20, LDN  |  Dec 2009 - July 2011

PLACEMENTS @ VARIOUS LONDON AGENCIES  |  June 2008 - Dec 2009

AWARDS
YunoJuno Awards 2023
Finalist - Creative Freelancer Of The Year

Beacon Awards 2022
pHD -  Smarty Pants  |  Nominee Best Campaign

Cannes Lions 2018
Merck "Can't Wait For" Video - Branded content & entertainment (shortlisted)

Clio Image Award 2015
The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter (Prestige Social Media Campaign)

BIMAs 2015
WINNER - Consumer Retailer  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter
WINNER - Content  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter
WINNER - Social  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter
Shortlisted - Video  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter
Shortlisted - Well-being & Health  |  ghd - Christmas campaign 2014

DMAs 2015
GOLD - FMCG  |  ghd - Christmas campaign 2014
GOLD - Retail  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter
SILVER - Integrated  |  ghd - Christmas campaign 2014
Shortlisted - Experiential  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter

Drum Marketing Awards 2015
Shortlisted - Integrated Strategy of the Year  |  ghd - Christmas campaign 2014
Shortlisted - Customer Insight Strategy  |  ghd - Christmas campaign 2014

The Webby Awards 2015
Honoree - Social, Animal  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter

Marketing Society Excellence Awards 2015
High Commendation - Marketing on a shoestring  |  The Outnet - Sergio The Shoe Hunter

D&AD Student Awards 2007
Commendation 'In Book' - Photography  |  Grazia Weekly

AND ALSO
2023  |  Founder @ We Are Shelance
A collective helping to connect and promote female freelance creatives in the advertising industry.

2019  |  Podcaster
Co-host of Books on the Subway The Podcast. An interview series with authors and humans who have impacted the city of NYC.

2012  |  Founder - Books on the Subway + Books on the Underground,
A worldwide book sharing initiative. Originally launched in London in 2012 I now have branches across the world. 

2018  |  Panelist at PAMA and Simon & Schuster
PAMA, an event for Penguin Randomhouse, educating marketers on #bookstagram. Speaker at SImon & Schuster's Digital Innovation Festival.

2014  |  Speaker at Chicago Ideas Week
'The Sharing Economy - What's mine is yours'

2015  |  Volunteer at New York Cares 
Working on the educational arts and mentoring program. Enabling underprivileged children, partially-sighted and disabled adults the opportunity to explore art, creativity and literature.

2014  |  ​Speaker at FutureRising
'21 things about Advertising I wish I could've told my 21 year old self'

2014  |  Mentor
School of Communication Arts 2.0