John Elson Artist

I love drawing and can’t quite believe how fortunate I am to make a living at it. Engaging/chatting and finding out about people as I sketch them is my favourite thing to do. It’s almost art therapy (almost..ha). I started at my local village fete. I set up two chairs and drew whoever sat down. It went well. Then a friend asked me to draw at their wedding reception….then a stranger asked….and it’s just evolved from there into my full time profession. I now go all over the U.K. to all kinds of events, drawing people from all backgrounds. It’s a great icebreaker and attention magnet at any event. I know im lucky to do what I do!

I’ve drawn for as long as I can remember. Professionally for over 25 years. Cartoons have always been my first passion, and I’m fortunate to have cartoons published weekly in 14 regional newspapers. Along with drawing cartoon portraits live at events. It’s taken me all over the U.K being hired in the last few months for events such as a weekend wedding in Mevagissey, Cornwall, to a corporate award ceremony in Aberdeen. I also draw digitally and am the ‘in-house’ illustrator for BookPrintingUK. Illustrating lots of new authors' work and book covers. My newest thing is making short animated caricature reels.

Wedding receptions. Parties, birthday/anniversary, etc UK Festivals (Latitude, Goodwood Revival, Beautiful Days) Weekly published editorial cartoonist (15 newspapers). Conferences (The Environment Agency, UWE Bristol, The Great Northern Conference, etc.) Clients include BMW, The Institute for Mechanical Engineering, The Salvation Army, Many U.K Universities, Ponticelli, etc.

I’m entirely self-taught.