I have a BFA in Graphic Design. My program was more print focused but I always made websites where ever I could. I knew HTML and CSS and basic js and a tiny bit of php.

I was beyond lucky to get a design job for a small startup on craigslist doing just design. From there I just wanted to help the startups I was working for move faster. So I learned to do better with HTML, CSS. And then JS and PHP just to help feature development go faster.

Eventually I found the programming interviews much easier then the design interviews. Though to be fair I don't think I was that amazing of a designer.

I got a few jobs doing all front end development and now I do all node / js/ react code.

While I lack any formal programming training what I do have is a really amazing relationship with the UX designers I have worked with. I have a feel for what they want and I care about what they are trying to accomplish. I am also better able to find good middle ground to compromise feature development on.

I think my focus on UX as a developer really helps me put out the best possible features.

While there seems to be many people in this thread with an art background I have found very few in the places I have worked with similar backgrounds.