'Customers love my biscuits so much that they frame them instead of eating them'

An illustrator who loved to bake on the side has combined her two passions to create a vegan biscuit company where she produces bespoke designs from baby bumps to pet portraits, which some customers frame instead of eating. Esi Essel, 29, the founder and owner of Coy Biscuit, runs the business from her home kitchen and hand makes the biscuits herself since launching in 2017.

The vegan biscuits have become a huge hit through social media, and Esi says she celebrates inclusivity and body positivity with her designs. Esi, who lives in east London, said: “I realised early on that I didn’t want to do freelance illustration long term and baking is something I have always loved to do.

“Combining those two things has been the best decision. It took a while to get to where I am but since going full time with business in 2022, I’m really proud of how much it has grown. I’m able to create really personal gifts for people and I’m very proud to be able to do that.”