Live Illustration for Events, Conferences and Workshops

Also called live scribing, graphic recording or visual note-taking - live illustration is a way of visually capturing talks, discussions and presentations. I use my toolkit of drawing techniques to create speedy drawings that encapsulate topics, summarise key points and breakdown complex ideas.

Having a visual accompaniment to your event instantly opens out your message to more people. Research has found that 65 percent of the general population are visual learners, meaning they need to see information in order to retain it. By turning information into images, you are adding value to your message and increasing its potential to lodge in the minds of your audience, clients and participants.

I come along to your event, conference, meeting and link up my digital sketchpad to a projector and capture your event as it unfolds. The visuals can be played back as a time-lapse video and you can use them following the event to spruce up your post-event follow-up notes, minutes and pledges. I can also turn the live illustrations into stand-alone graphics for campaigns and more. Get in touch to discuss.

Each job is unique and I put together a quote based on the details you provide such as the nature of your event, duration and location.

Live illustration services can range anywhere between £700 and £9,000 or more, depending on the event. The cost can also vary based on whether it's in-person, online or if I join remotely.

As a guide, in-person live illustration (UK) starts from £1,600 for a half day and £2,500 for a full day. If you’re after a shorter online session (up to one hour), these are available from £700.

To get a tailored quote, please fill out a contact form.

As an artist, I automatically own the copyright to the artwork and illustrations I create when we work together. A license agreement will allow you the option to reproduce the images in specific ways, for a specific amount of time. Licensing means you only pay for what you need. This is based on a number of factors, including where the image will be used, by who and for how long.

With online meeting platforms such as Zoom and Teams, now a common fixture in our lives, live illustration is a great way of enlivening your online event and banishing Zoom-fatigue. And of course, hosting your event online instantly makes it accessible to a wider audience. I share my digital sketchpad screen so participants can see the visuals taking shape live or playback a timelapse to round-up the session/s. Following the event you receive the digital files of the drawings and a timelapse video.

A hybrid event is where you have in-person activities such as a conference with a panel discussion and an online element that enables a virtual audience to tune in and participate e.g. via a live stream. I can live stream my illustration and graphic recording to your event too so I can bring value to your event whilst working from my studio. This is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and accessible option for me and your organisation!

With a speedy internet connection, my visuals can be beamed live to your event, anywhere in the world, in real time! As long as I can hear you, I can draw you, your presentation or conversation....

By skipping travel and accommodation expenses, your budget stretches further. It’s a practical choice, especially for clients hosting events in multiple locations or on a tight timeline.

No flights, trains or cars mean a reduced carbon footprint - a win for both your event and the planet.

Remote work allows for a quick setup and delivery. You’ll have digital copies of the illustrations straight away, ready to share with your team or audience.

The first and foremost thing is an agenda. This allows me to understand the keywords and any industry specific terms. I’ll also do some research beforehand to make sure I’m primed and ready.

As the illustrations are created in real time, you will receive them immediately after the event to share with participants and your audience.

No problem at all! If you share a copy of the meeting recording with me, I can spice up those minutes with post-event illustrated notes.

Sometimes, good old-fashioned pen on paper does the trick! Absolutely, I can bring a large roll of paper and pens to your venue, as long as there’s wall space or boards available. I’ve even created 7-meter graphic walls for conferences overseas, providing all materials and set-up. Get in touch to chat through your event.

I work with a range of clients including, but not limited to: businesses and corporate companies, academic institutions, charities, community interest companies, third sector organisations, local government, museums and galleries, arts, culture and heritage organisations.

I am based in the South of England and work both nationally and internationally. Have a specific event in mind? I'm all ears. Feel free to get in touch to discuss details.

There are lots of ways to share live illustrations during your event depending on the atmosphere and experience you want to create.

For digital live illustration, the drawings can be projected onto a screen in real-time as they are created. Some clients prefer to save the illustrations for a time-lapse replay during breaks or lunchtime sessions, while others opt for a “grand reveal” at the end of the event.

Another popular option is to use the illustrations after the event in follow-up emails, reports, social media content or marketing campaigns, allowing attendees to revisit and continue engaging with the key messages long after the event has finished.

Your live illustrations can continue working for you long after the event has ended.

Many clients use the drawings in social media posts, newsletters, reports, follow-up emails and online campaigns. The time-lapse videos are especially engaging and are a great way to generate additional visibility and discussion around your event content.

Illustrations can also be printed as posters, postcards, exhibition materials or office artwork. If you’re considering printed outputs, it’s helpful to discuss this before the event so the artwork can be created at the correct dimensions and resolution.

Before the event, I’ll review your agenda, session titles and any important themes or terminology so I know what topics and keywords to listen out for.

I also prepare visual ideas and subject-specific imagery ahead of time where appropriate. During the event itself, I’m listening carefully not only to the content, but also to the overall tone and energy in the room so the illustrations capture both the information and the atmosphere of the event.

Absolutely.

Many clients provide brand guidelines, colour palettes or logos ahead of the event, which I can incorporate into the illustrations to ensure everything feels aligned with your organisation and event identity.

If you don’t have branding guidelines, that’s completely fine too. We can discuss colours and styles that suit the subject matter and overall feel of your event.

Live means live. Because the illustrations are created live during your event, the finished artwork is ready immediately afterwards.

You’ll receive high-resolution JPEGs and PDFs, along with a time-lapse video if the illustrations were created digitally on iPad.

This means you can begin sharing the visuals straight away in post-event communications, social media content and attendee follow-ups.

The setup I use depends on the type of event and the experience you want to create.

For workshops and graphic facilitation sessions, I often work traditionally using large rolls of paper and professional marker pens to create large-scale visual displays in the room.

For conferences, webinars and online events, I typically work digitally on an iPad using Procreate and Apple Pencil. This allows the illustrations to be shared on screens during the event if desired and also creates an automatic time-lapse recording of the artwork being drawn.

Ahead of the event, we’ll discuss the best setup for your venue, audience and format.

Live illustration can be integrated in a way that complements your event rather than distracting from it.

For conferences and speaker sessions, I often work discreetly on an iPad from within the audience rather than projecting the drawings live behind the speakers. This helps keep the audience focused on the presentation while still capturing the discussion visually.

The illustrations can then be shared during breaks, at the end of the session, or afterwards as static images or time-lapse replays.

For paper-based graphic facilitation, the visual display can also be positioned elsewhere in the venue to encourage attendees to engage with it in their own time.

You are the subject experts - my role is to translate the discussion into an engaging visual summary.

Ahead of the event, we’ll discuss any important terminology, acronyms or specialist language that may come up. I often do additional preparation and research beforehand to familiarise myself with the topic area.

This preparation allows me to confidently capture complex conversations in a way that is clear, accessible and visually engaging for your audience.

Before the event, we’ll schedule a briefing meeting to go through your agenda, timings and event format.

This helps me plan how the illustrations will flow across the page or digital canvas and ensures I’m prepared for the structure and pace of the event.

We’ll also discuss:

• Any specialist terminology or language to be aware of

• How you’d like to use the illustrations after the event

• Technical setup and AV requirements

• Plans for sharing the illustrations during the event itself

This preparation helps everything run smoothly on the day and ensures the illustrations are tailored to your event and audience.

Send me the details of your event by completing the contact form. I’ll then get in touch to arrange a call to run through your event and your requirements. I’ll prepare a quote for you to sign off and we’ll agree a time to run through your agenda in a pre-event briefing call. Just before your event we will do a tech run-through together to make sure everything is running smoothly and we’re good to go.