How I Went From Being A Corporate Middle Manager To Cutting Intricate Papercut Street Maps
I’m Andrew and I make a living cutting thousands of holes from sheets of paper to reveal street maps of interesting places.
About two years ago I was a successful middle manager at a multinational corporation when one day I was hit by a long and deep bout of depression. Seeking help, I was prescribed anti-depressants.
Unfortunately, I had a very bad reaction to the medication and ended up taking several months off to recover from the memory and fine motor-skill issues I was left with. I took up papercutting as a hobby to support my recovery and keep me occupied.
Over the months that followed, I could see gradual ongoing improvements to my health and paper cutting skills. Christmas came and I gave a few simple street maps that I had cut from paper to close family and friends, receiving a very warm response in return. It was suggested that I might be able to sell them – a backup plan or ‘Plan B’ if my recovery and return to work didn’t go as planned.
Whilst I couldn’t go back to work I finessed my approach over the last year and mechanised most of the cutting process so that I could get the intricate detail I was looking for but incapable of achieving with my still shaky hands.
Today, I’m still not 100% recovered but that’s okay. I now have a little studio on my boat ‘Plan B’ where I make a living creating art. I spend my days making papercut street maps and watching the ducks float past my window.
More info: planbcreations.co.uk | Facebook | Instagram
About two years ago I was a successful middle manager at a multinational corporation
A papercut map of London.
One day I was hit by a long and deep bout of depression
Seeking help, I was prescribed anti-depressants
Unfortunately, I had a very bad reaction to the medication and ended up taking several months off to recover from the memory and fine motor-skill issues
I took up papercutting as a hobby to support my recovery and keep me occupied
Over the months that followed, I could see gradual ongoing improvements to my health and paper cutting skills
I gave a few simple street maps that I had cut from paper to close family and friends, receiving a very warm response in return
It was suggested that I might be able to sell them – a backup plan or ‘Plan B’ if my recovery and return to work didn’t go as planned
This map series was made from 16 sheets with more than 5,000 holes cut from them.
I now have a little studio on my boat ‘Plan B’ where I make a living creating art
A papercut map of London (Bohemian color scheme).
I spend my days making papercut street maps and watching the ducks float past my window
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They are being shy today now I mentioned them on the internet. Will a couple of swans do instead? IMG_201403...b67d4c.jpg 
Hi. These days, about 2 to 3 days per map (Working 8+ hour days). This includes designing the template, cutting and framing. Back when I used to completely cut by hand, less detailed designs than this would take a couple of weeks and multiple attempts - glad those days are over!
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I love your work Andrew! I hope you will find great successes ahead with your newly founded talents :D
Being a fellow sufferer of depression I know what medication can do. I was hospitalized because of an anti depressant. I needed no recovery time so I truly sympathise with your unfortunate reaction. I am glad you found a hobby to channel your energy into. It's why I crochet, it's when I feel at peace. Your work is no short of incredible. I hope every creation you make brings you closer to being depression free.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and I'm glad you made a swift recovery! My art definitely does help put me in a positive mental state as well.
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that is a great story Andrew! bravo to you and the work is very intricate and detailed. Ever think of doing cards or calendars of these? just a thought. All the best! Len
Thanks Len. I have been pondering prints (Including things like Calendars) Just not been able to make a decision yet!
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Beautiful work! But I have a question about your fine motor skill issues - few years ago, just before I developed some major anxiety and then depression, my left hand suddenly became "sloppier" than the right - I started pressing the wrong keys on the keyboard, was shaking while holding my phone, etc. After lots of visits to various doctors they concluded there is no "organic" cause... fast forward 5 years later and the situation is pretty much the same. Could you share some details about your problems and the medication that caused them? Thanks!
My issue was shakiness. Medication lithium, escitalopram and Lamotrigine. Each of these I tried for a couple of days, each caused major problems. Looking back at my life after the event, my body hasn't typically reacted very well to any medication...
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Your work is amazing and I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. You give me hope to start fresh after a similar experience.
Good luck with your journey. It wasn't easy and I had a lot more go on than I could share in the short article above, just make sure you don't give up :)
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Your work is remarkable. Building your own tools was inventive. You should patent the design.
How do you keep from tearing the paper, especially with the very fine spidery bits?
If cutting fine stuff like this by hand the key things are: (1) Use very sharp blades, changed regularly (2) start by cutting the finest details, leaving the biggest bits until last (3) at the same time, work from the centre outwards unless it breaks rule 2 (4) Use thin paper (5) Have plenty patience & a steady hand.
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This is fantastic ! I wonder, how long does it take to make a map (a "normal size one" let's say !) ?
Back when I cut them completely by hand, a layered one with less than half the detail of these would take a couple of weeks and be full of mistakes. Now I've built tools to help, from starting to design the template to finishing cutting takes a just a few days (8+ hour days, though!). As mentioned in the article, I had to build tools to do most of the cutting for me because I couldn't get the level of detail I wanted by hand due to my shakes (Still not subsided after 18 months...). A positive side effect is that it makes these maps fairly accessible.
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Good for you! Corporate life is WAY over-rated. You clearly have much better skills. Nice work!
Haha, yes. You never realise it whilst you are in that bubble though, or at least I didn't. I think a good salary could be treated as an addiction....
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Hey Andrew It is great to see (read) how something horrible like your issue ends up in something beautiful like those maps. I love them and I like your approach. I even like the boat and the ducks (swans) - great inspiration though. :) Keep it up!
Thank you. It has led me to believe that sometimes maybe what seems like a bad thing at the time may actually have happened for a reason and be good for us in the long run.
Load More Replies...
They are being shy today now I mentioned them on the internet. Will a couple of swans do instead? IMG_201403...b67d4c.jpg
Hi. These days, about 2 to 3 days per map (Working 8+ hour days). This includes designing the template, cutting and framing. Back when I used to completely cut by hand, less detailed designs than this would take a couple of weeks and multiple attempts - glad those days are over!
Load More Replies... I love your work Andrew! I hope you will find great successes ahead with your newly founded talents :D
Being a fellow sufferer of depression I know what medication can do. I was hospitalized because of an anti depressant. I needed no recovery time so I truly sympathise with your unfortunate reaction. I am glad you found a hobby to channel your energy into. It's why I crochet, it's when I feel at peace. Your work is no short of incredible. I hope every creation you make brings you closer to being depression free.
Thank you for taking the time to respond and I'm glad you made a swift recovery! My art definitely does help put me in a positive mental state as well.
Load More Replies... that is a great story Andrew! bravo to you and the work is very intricate and detailed. Ever think of doing cards or calendars of these? just a thought. All the best! Len
Thanks Len. I have been pondering prints (Including things like Calendars) Just not been able to make a decision yet!
Load More Replies... Beautiful work! But I have a question about your fine motor skill issues - few years ago, just before I developed some major anxiety and then depression, my left hand suddenly became "sloppier" than the right - I started pressing the wrong keys on the keyboard, was shaking while holding my phone, etc. After lots of visits to various doctors they concluded there is no "organic" cause... fast forward 5 years later and the situation is pretty much the same. Could you share some details about your problems and the medication that caused them? Thanks!
My issue was shakiness. Medication lithium, escitalopram and Lamotrigine. Each of these I tried for a couple of days, each caused major problems. Looking back at my life after the event, my body hasn't typically reacted very well to any medication...
Load More Replies... Your work is amazing and I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. You give me hope to start fresh after a similar experience.
Good luck with your journey. It wasn't easy and I had a lot more go on than I could share in the short article above, just make sure you don't give up :)
Load More Replies... Your work is remarkable. Building your own tools was inventive. You should patent the design.
How do you keep from tearing the paper, especially with the very fine spidery bits?
If cutting fine stuff like this by hand the key things are: (1) Use very sharp blades, changed regularly (2) start by cutting the finest details, leaving the biggest bits until last (3) at the same time, work from the centre outwards unless it breaks rule 2 (4) Use thin paper (5) Have plenty patience & a steady hand.
Load More Replies... This is fantastic ! I wonder, how long does it take to make a map (a "normal size one" let's say !) ?
Back when I cut them completely by hand, a layered one with less than half the detail of these would take a couple of weeks and be full of mistakes. Now I've built tools to help, from starting to design the template to finishing cutting takes a just a few days (8+ hour days, though!). As mentioned in the article, I had to build tools to do most of the cutting for me because I couldn't get the level of detail I wanted by hand due to my shakes (Still not subsided after 18 months...). A positive side effect is that it makes these maps fairly accessible.
Load More Replies... Good for you! Corporate life is WAY over-rated. You clearly have much better skills. Nice work!
Haha, yes. You never realise it whilst you are in that bubble though, or at least I didn't. I think a good salary could be treated as an addiction....
Load More Replies... Hey Andrew It is great to see (read) how something horrible like your issue ends up in something beautiful like those maps. I love them and I like your approach. I even like the boat and the ducks (swans) - great inspiration though. :) Keep it up!
Thank you. It has led me to believe that sometimes maybe what seems like a bad thing at the time may actually have happened for a reason and be good for us in the long run.
Load More Replies... 
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