Trade shows are a blur of polite nods, lanyards, and the weary rustle of branded tote bags. Visitors drift between stands with a creeping sense of déjà vu, hoping something - anything - might stand out...
Shopping centre party entertainment hire (!) - sketching shoppers (mall rats) for Hive at Westfield in Shepherds Bush, west London
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Amid the fluorescent purgatory, I offer something rare: a moment of warmth and actual humanity. I create fast, flattering, and funny caricatures that attract, disarm, and engage with laughter, art, and light self-reflection.
Branding Show @ ExCeL
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I can both anchor myself at your stand as a small, magnetic hub of activity, as well as roam the aisles sketchpad in hand, quietly intercepting promising delegates before they drift into the next beige abyss. It’s a flexible approach that doesn’t rely on hope, luck, or the quiet despair of passive footfall.
Accountex @ ExCeL
These quick, spontaneous sketches aren’t just a bit of fun - they’re a perfectly engineered excuse for visitors to stop, smile, and stay put. While I draw, your team gains a rare window: a receptive audience, pleasantly occupied and in no particular rush (and, crucially, with no polite way to escape).
The Festival of Genomics @ Business Design Centre, Islington
Infosecurity @ ExCeL
Some stands give out stress balls, others give out pens. Yours gives out stimulating, memorable artwork, and a tiny, joyful ego boost. It’s the difference between being seen and being remembered.
Chef Awards, tbh forgotten which particular venue this was!
Corporate networking, the Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge
"We had great feedback on the biro sketches, and I used the photos in my analysis of the trade fair when I presented it to our senior management, and they seemed pretty impressed!"
Ian, Bic Graphic Europe
Drawing a crowd (don't laugh, it wasn't funny) for Bic Graphic - using Bic pens - of course! Olympia, London
Bijou 'lil popup expo/trade show at the British Medical Association, Tavistock Sq, Bloomsbury
Whether I’m holding attention at the stand, or playing pied piper by seeking out and charming cheerful attendees before leading them back for a sketch, I help your team connect with the people who’d otherwise pass you by.
I’ve done this for years, and it works. It provides more footfall, more 'lead capture' (I think that's the term), more real conversations started - and more scope for your team to do what they do best.