Special Events
We create, curate and deliver exciting community events designed to connect, empower and uplift people through drawing and art. With portraiture and creative play at the core, they offer informal, inclusive and safe spaces for people to experiment, express and be themselves - to make social connections and gain fresh creative perspectives. Read on to find out more about some of our most memorable special events!
Watch this video for a flavour of the fun we had at Sketchfest!
Day of the Red!
@ Spitalfields E1
October 2023
What better way to celebrate Sue’s birthday month than with an al-fresco Sketchup in one of her favourite places (Spitalfields), and themed around her favourite colour! We’ve already decided to make it an annual thing… maybe see you there next year?
Summer Sketchfest!
@ Fellowship Square, Walthamstow
August 2022
We had a blast hosting our first ever al-fresco Sketchfest! Our weekend of family-friendly creative fun included a live portrait ‘bar’, drop-in drawing and craft activities, an Intergenerational Family Sketchup and a Sketchy Bitches Summer Sizzler!
Sketch Appeal’s 5th Anniversary!
@ Rich Mix, Shoreditch
July 2023
We celebrated 5 years of Sketch Appeal with a special night of live fashion sketching at Rich MIx arts centre! Illustration legend Sue Dray joined us as guest tutor - Florent Bidois, Sue Kreitzman and other friends from the Spitalfields Colour Walk as muses.
Sketch Appeal’s 4th Birthday Party!
@ Spitalfields Market
July 2022
We took to the streets for our 4th Birthday! Curious crowds peered on whilst we celebrated with music, chat, portrait-sketching and pencil biscuits! Our yellow theme was mirrored perfectly by the afternoon sun. Such a great day!
Spring Sketchfest!
@ Shoreditch Pop-Up
March 2022
Funded by Arts Council England, this 10-day celebration of creativity, colour and community featured an exhibition of our lockdown portraits and workshops with special guests, including acclaimed Artist Curtis Holder.
Sketchy Bitches Portrait Pop-up!
@ Oxford Street
November 2021
A 2-day sketchathon on one of the world’s most iconic high streets, inc. live portrait ‘bar’, workshops, exhibition and gift shop. Staffed by lots of wonderful volunteers from within our Sketchy Bitches community, we had an absolute blast!!
Sketch The Rainbow LIVE!
@ Spitalfields Market
July 2021
Part of London’s ‘Festival of Ideas’, this was our first IRL event since the start of the pandemic - a celebration of the friendships we’d made online and of our post-lockdown ‘freedom’! With guest muses from the Colour Walk: Florent Bidois, Anne-Sophie Cochevelou, Sue Kreitzman and Natalie Webb.
International Women’s Day
@ Huckletree West
March 2019
Our first BIG event for IWD was a Saturday spectacular at Huckletree, White City. It included a live panel chat with special guests, a dynamic fashion sketching masterclass led by Sue Dray, and an afternoon of networking, Sketchy Bitches style (drawing each other)! UNFORGETTABLE.
International Women’s Day
@ Rich Mix
March 2020
We’ll never forget this event, hosted at the Rich Mix Arts centre in Shoreditch, just before the pandemic hit. Artist and Colour Queen Sue Kreitzman joined us to talk about her game-changing creative journey, feminism and food! Who better to celebrate the joy of colour, creativity and sisterhood with us.
Sketch Appeal Magazine Launch Party
@ Drink Shop & Do
November 2018
We celebrated the launch of our magazine with a drawing disco at Drink Shop & Do - one of our favourite London venues that sadly didn’t survive the pandemic. It was a brilliant, adrenaline-fuelled night to remember, with guest muses/divas Carla and Manko and lots of wonderful sketchers!