So this is 50. And this post is indulgent 😉

Here are some cracking new photos by the brilliant Fiona Finchett, taken at GRIT Art Studio. I spend so much time looking forward that I wanted to reflect on what and who got me to where I am now. I also wanted a new portrait, to tell the story and mark my half-century.

My twenties were all about trying to become a comic book artist. My thirties were all about becoming a stand-up comedian and my forties a rollercoaster of creative activity. The pandemic helped sort through my priorities and come full circle. Now I draw and perform, sometimes simultaneously.

Earlier this year I retired Danny Pensive, the comedy character I'd performed as for around 15 years. Gigging as Danny was one of the high points of my comedy career, but I do feel as though I now have a much better life-work balance.

I've been searching for a quote by comedian and TV producer Jimmy Mulville about "doing your best working your 50's". The general jist is who you by now who are and what you're good at and have the skills to make it happen. That's where I feel right now.

I've built up quite a body of work. The illustration is physical, I can see how I've developed over time. The comedy side is a little trickier to reflect on. I've plethora of photos and videos from when I started in the days before social media, but comedy is more ephemeral, an intangible thing that happens in a room. Oh the memories.

Joining GRIT art studio in late 2023 is perfectly timed. Joining a community of folks making great work. I even host an event for artists, in the same way I used to run comedy nights.

I'm excited for the new opportunities, and being in Manchester right now feels like a brilliant space for creative minds. Loads going on, and if I can be part of it, and make a mark on it, then that is time very well spent.

John,
November 2024

Also known as graphic recording, sketch noting or visual minutes.

What is it?

'Live scribing' is a term for having artwork created live during an event. It has other names like visual minutes, sketch noting, graphic recording and graphic facilitation. It's the process of capturing a live event as engaging colourful visuals. It's a great way to engage and support individuals and teams .

It can take various forms;

• Capturing a speaker's words as visuals as they deliver their talk at a conference
• Working with a team at a company away day, turning feedback into posters
• Capturing company core values as spoken notes and turning them into highly polished illustrations
• (90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.)

Live Scribing is a great way to enhance the impact and takeaways from an event.
With the live art I create for clients, all artwork is owned by the clients once it has been created, and can be reused however they like. Often on office walls or social media.

Live scribing (Graphic recording) is thinking fast with visuals. Creating engaging illustrations during a talk, conference or event. It has other names like visual minutes, sketch noting and graphic facilitation.

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Connecting what speakers are saying with what images are commonly represented by the subject being spoken about. There's also humour, as I like to add appropriate humour to visuals. Just my opinion, though I think with more serious topics, using a little light humour can help with how people engage with difficult subjects, and some of my clients agree.

Clients include;

• Manchester City Council
• Roche
• Hologic
• Willmott Dixon Construction
• Liverpool Hilton
• NIHR - National Institute for Health and Care Research
• UK BCorp Conference
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• National Deaf Society
• Digital Manchester
• NHS North West
• Bureau Veritas

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See more examples.