Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Berton
Hi Will, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was lucky enough to grow up in a home where creativity wasn’t just encouraged—it was celebrated. My parents taught me to see the world differently, to look for beauty in unexpected places, and to trust my imagination. Art wasn’t something we just did; it continues to be how we all live. That foundation shaped everything about who I am, but even with all that love and encouragement, life doesn’t always make it easy to hold on to that creative spark.
I graduated high school early, partly because I was restless, partly because I felt this urgency to figure out my place in the world. By the time I was 18, I’d made the choice to stare the pain I’d been running from straight in it’s face, a decision that forced me to face myself in ways I wasn’t ready for. Not long after, I went through a divorce at an age where most people are just beginning to find themselves. I spent years trying to fit into the version of me I thought I needed to be—the version society would approve of. I wanted to look right, act right, and even make my art feel “right.” But none of it was real. It was hollow, and eventually, I couldn’t keep pretending.
What saved me—what has always saved me—was creativity. Slowly, I began to strip away the layers of expectations and rediscover the messy, bold, unapologetic parts of myself. That’s how Deadfish Creative was born. It wasn’t just a business idea; it was a lifeline. It was me saying, “This is who I am. Take it or leave it.”
But I didn’t get here alone. My parents planted the seed, but it was the mentors and teachers along the way who kept me growing. They saw something in me I couldn’t see in myself, and they gave me their time, their knowledge, their belief. Some of them offered tough love, others offered empathy, but they all gave me pieces of themselves that became the foundation of my success. I owe everything to the generosity of people who shared what they had—whether it was wisdom, skills, or just the faith that I could do something great.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road hasn’t been smooth—far from it. Starting Deadfish Creative meant taking risks, not just professionally but personally. I had to unlearn so much of what I thought I knew about who I was supposed to be. I had to face the fear that maybe I wasn’t good enough, that maybe my voice wasn’t loud enough or strong enough to make a difference.
There were moments of deep doubt, times when I questioned whether I’d made the right choice. But every setback taught me something: the only way forward is through. You can’t avoid the messiness of life, and you can’t avoid the messiness of art. The things that scare us, that make us feel vulnerable—they’re the things that connect us to each other.
Stepping into my authentic self has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also been the most rewarding. Deadfish Creative isn’t perfect, but it’s real. It’s messy and raw and sometimes a little chaotic, but it’s human. And through it, I’ve learned that there’s beauty in imperfection and power in embracing the parts of ourselves we’re afraid to show the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Deadfish Creative is your all-in-one creative powerhouse, specializing in design, marketing, and content tailored for bold business owners. We don’t just deliver eye-catching visuals and disruptive strategies—we help you tap into your own innate creativity to build a brand that’s authentically you. Whether it’s crafting standout campaigns or unlocking new ways to connect with your audience, we’re here to make your business unforgettable.
Art is more than just something we create—it’s who we are. I believe that every single person is born an artist. We’re all creative, whether we realize it or not. But somewhere along the way, most of us lose that connection. Society teaches us that creativity is a luxury or a talent reserved for the “gifted,” and we start to believe that lie.
One of my biggest goals with Deadfish Creative is to remind people of the truth: creativity is innate. It’s not about making something perfect—it’s about making something honest. Art is a tool for freedom—freedom from the confines of who we think we’re supposed to be, freedom to express the emotions we feel but can’t put into words, and freedom to tell the world what we believe in.
For me, this isn’t just a business; it’s a mission. I want to help people give their creative vision a home in this world and use it to make sense of this beautiful, painful mess we live in. I hope that by sharing my story, I can show others that it’s okay to be imperfect, to be vulnerable, to be exactly who you are.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We are all shaped by the generosity of others. I wouldn’t be here without the people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and Deadfish Creative is my way of paying that forward. Giving people a space to embrace their own creativity and connect with the world in a way that feels real. If you’d like to connect, feel free to reach out to me via Instagram at @kingdeadfish or @deadfishcreative. If you’re more into pen pal type vibes, shoot me an email at will@deadfishcreative.com.
So… if you’re reading this, know that you are inherently creative. You are an artist. And you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s box to be worthy or to make something meaningful. The things that make you different are the things that make you powerful.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kingdeadfish
Image Credits
@deadfishcreative (taken and edited by me)
