How Fine Art Sticker Co. Brings Nature’s Beauty to Everyday Life
By Heather DeSousa
In 2003, Ashley Darling moved to Prescott, captivated by the rugged beauty of the Granite Dells and determined to preserve the landscape for future generations. Two decades later, that passion for the outdoors and love of fine art would collide in an unexpected way: through vinyl stickers.
The very first design she ever created was a watercolor painting to support the Save the Dells movement. At the time, she had no idea it would spark a business. “As a mom of four, I want to preserve this area for generations to come,” Ashley said. “That first sticker was about awareness, and it stuck, literally.”
Ashley has been a local photographer since 2014, but her creative life began long before that.
Over the years, she explored different mediums, from sewing to sketching to sculpting and painting. Three years ago, when her youngest child was born, she stepped away from sewing to focus on painting; something she could do while caring for a baby. A turning point came when she joined a Yavapai College bachelor’s in business program and met her mentor, Dick Milon of SCORE.
“We were talking about my passion for painting and whether it could become a business,” she recalled. “Then someone walked in, saw my Dells sticker, and asked where they could buy it. It felt like serendipity.”
Turning Watercolor Into Stickers
Ashley’s background in graphic design, photography, and painting gives her work a unique edge. In an age of AI-generated media, her hand-painted watercolor stickers stand out as fine art in miniature.
“Art can feel very exclusive,” she explained. “But stickers make it approachable. It doesn’t have to be behind glass in a gallery to be meaningful.”
Her creative process blends traditional techniques with modern tools. She starts with a pencil sketch, erases most of the lines, then layers in watercolor over the course of a week. A crow-quill ink nib adds fine detail before she photographs the piece, digitizes it in Photoshop and creates cutting lines in Illustrator. The result: a high-quality vinyl sticker that can withstand the elements while retaining the texture and nuance of the original painting.
Often drawn from Arizona’s deserts and forests, as well as seasonal changes and community events, much of Ashley’s work is inspired by the whimsical landscapes she loves. “I want to communicate the whimsical way I see life and share the beauty I can see,” she said. “In a busy world, nature invites us to pause. Even if you’re at work, glancing at your water bottle adorned with one of my stickers can give you a moment of escape.”
Her designs often reflect an environmental awareness, a quiet reminder of the importance of protecting wild spaces. From desert blooms to mountain vistas, each piece captures both a place and a feeling.
Prescott itself has shaped Fine Art Sticker Co.’s identity. From the local mountain biking scene to instructors at Yavapai College to the farmers market, Ashley has found inspiration and community support at every turn. She was even commissioned to design the pole banners that now line downtown Prescott in the wintertime. Local advocate Cristina Binkley played a key role in helping her brand take root downtown.
Today, her stickers can be found in shops like Earth and Herbs (which carries her full line), Soul Ride, The Lookout, Magpie, Ghost Town Handicrafts, Game On, and Prescott’s REI. That REI connection was a major milestone, especially given the store’s no-competition policy, which typically prevents them from carrying other sticker brands.
Her work has also made its way into the Yavapai College gallery, a rare feat for a product not traditionally considered “gallery art.” While growing her business, Ashley has been moved by the reactions of customers, especially young artists. “Some of my favorite interactions are when I meet kids who love art,” she said. “As a local art teacher, I’m passionate about empowering kids to dream big.”
Fine Art Sticker Co. has big plans for the future, including expanding into apparel (the first batch of t-shirts have just arrived), vending at popular art markets, appearing on distribution lists, and collaborations with major outdoor brands. Ashley remains open to commissions, murals and collaborations with local businesses.
For those who want to support her mission of preserving nature’s beauty through art, following her journey on social media, shopping her stickers and t-shirts, or commissioning custom work are all ways to get involved.
“I think one of the biggest hurdles as an artist is quieting those voices that say you can’t do it,”
Ashley reflected. “You have to replace the cultural norm ‘starving artist’ with ‘you got this’ and keep following your dreams, especially the ones you never dared to dream before.”
Learn more at https://fineartstickerco.com, or on social media: Fine Art Sticker Co on Facebook and @fineartstickerco on Instagram.