I’ve heard it said that you don’t get to choose your own nickname. Someone picks one for you. In my case, it was my eldest niece, Ella, who gave me mine.

I am Laura Marsh, but I’m also known as Elo.

When my niece first learned to talk, we sat around the table together as a family and listened with delight as she said each of our names in turn. When Ella got to me, she didn’t call me Laura or Aunt Laura, she called me Elo, and I’ve been Elo ever since.

I love my nickname. It is the sweetest and most enduring moniker of my life, and I decided years ago to use “elo” as my artist’s signature.

So, when you see beautiful artwork by me, Laura Marsh, don’t let the signature fool you: I am Elo.