Cartoon-based creative workshops that support emotional expression and communication in young people.
Cartoon workshops that help young people express what they find hard to say. Teaching things that are fun, creative, and express emotions, in a safe way.
From drawing a dog…
…to drawing your family…
…and all kinds of other fun creative things !!!
Aside from being an award-winning cartoonist ( 3 times!!!) with national newspapers, and creating cartoons for global brands (marketing/social media/ training & workshops…) I also work with people, teaching the skills of visual storytelling through cartoons.
This includes young people, and those who may find it harder to express emotions in conventional ways. Drawing is a fantastic vehicle for releasing feelings and emotions, and I love teaching what I know!
I’ve seen smiles and laughter when people draw with freedom and fun.
Learn to draw how you feel… and how you want to feel… or don’t want to feel…
Drawing emotions helps young people turn abstract feelings into something visible and understandable.
Something they can even laugh at!
While I’m not a therapist, my sessions draw on principles from Art Therapy and visual storytelling to create a safe engaging way for young people to express themselves.
I don’t cure, heal, or fix any medical problems, but I have seen the energy and mood of people change when they draw cartoons and doodle freely, letting their imagination and creativity flow.
As father to teenage daughters, I worry about this modern world that they inhabit, living in a screen, social media, pressure, ‘likes’, stress, mental health…
And it’s not just our children, it’s all of us. The fast pace of life, technology, the scaremongering news we are constantly fed, everything is creating more stress.
After a session at a world renowned specialist clinic providing intensive treatment for children/young people with eating disorders.
Brilliant session.
…although I can’t read the actual words as it’s too low res. But I’m sure it’s nice!!!
I’ve requested another copy!
A little Story.
A few years ago I ran a couple of workshops at a famous children’s hospital in London.
We’re in the schoolroom downstairs, with approximately 20 kids around a table, me walking round teaching whatever silly cartoons they wanted to draw. A lot of the children were quite sick, and I took my 2 daughters with (young at the time), because I wanted them to understand that when they complain about walking to school (a short walk), that there are children out there who’d love to be able to walk to school.
The cartoon session was going well, lots of silly cartoons and smiling faces. But I noticed one girl laying head in arms on the table, a little older than the others, with noticeable signs of self harm. She ignored me, the staff explained that she’s always like this, and not to take it personally, so I continued around the table showing the kids how to draw whatever silliness they requested.
Coming around the table again, I heard a voice, ‘Excuse me, can you show me how to draw LittleMix’, (the girlband).
It was this girl, head now lifted up out of her arms. The staff were surprised, and grabbing a chair I sat with her and we started doodling something that I had no idea how to draw, and she seemed happy, chatting. I remember asking her where she comes from…(the hospital has kids from everywhere). She explained that I wouldn’t have heard of it, a place between London and Hertfordshire. Turned out she lives 2 road from us,…I excitedly told my girls. we continued drawing and chatting.
Someone came into the room, requesting for this girl to go and have treatment, and we said goodbye, by this point she was smiling and waving, and told us she would see us around ‘the area’. The staff explained to me that this 14-year old doesn’t ever react like this to anything.
As we left I asked my daughters if they saw what just happened, and they kindly said it was because of me. I explained that it wasn’t me, it was the power of drawing cartoons. Yes I do have a nice personality…but the change in people when they get creative, and draw freely can be incredible. I hope that girl is living a great life.
A private cartoon session for kids at a house…
Enquiries and prices:
To enquire about private sessions (dependent on the geography), or online (Zoom/Teams),
or group sessions…etc…