Big Draw 2004 London Launch

Other launch events: South West, South East, East, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, North East, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland

Art on the Square:

Join the Party

Trafalgar Square

26 September 2004

With thanks to Persil for its generous support
and to Berol, Tullis Russell Papermakers and Global Art Supplies for additional materials

Photos by Brian Aldrich

An amazing 35,000 people dropped into Trafalgar Square to enjoy the free art activities offered by The Big Draw. Down by the fountain, creative activities such as hat, mask and costume making kept the younger (and some older!) ones enthralled, while portraiture, cartooning and architectural workshops engaged all ages. The marquees were so busy that many spilled out to use the Square's paving. On the Northern Terrace visitors could add their drawing to a very long visitor's 'book', while a team of art cafe waiters from West Walls Studios, Carlisle,encouraged everyone to draw on plates, a huge tablecloth or even on the waiters' costumes! Emma Churchill's pencil bowling balls were a great hit, while Nik Ramage's free ranging pens fascinated many.

Celebrity artists attracted crowds and performance artists Stacked Wonky, Vivid and unicyclists making patterns on paper gave people a chance to relax before plunging back into the frenzy of creativity. Hatstand Opera, the Guildhall School of Music, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Open House provided innovative drawing opportunities. Free sketchpads and pencils were distributed to all comers, thanks to Persil, as well as The Independent's Big Draw Guide to the other 1250 Big Draw events at venues around the country throughout October. Balloons carried the Big Draw message further afield - the latest reported sightings have just arrived from the Pyrenees! Prizes for a variety of activities were generously donated by Eurostar, BA London Eye, Berol, BBC, rred Cafe on the Square, Crivelli's Garden Restaurant and the National Gallery cafe and Portraits Restaurant in the National Portrait Gallery.

Quentin Blake, Antonio Carluccio, Big Draw London Launch 2004

What's for Dinner?

Celebrity artists drew their favourite dinner guest or dream dish on a giant framed scroll of paper. These epic drawings have been donated to Paintings in Hospitals, to enliven children's wards around the country.

Gerald Scarfe, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Patron Quentin Blake (illustrator) and chef Antonio Carluccio (above).
Posy Simmonds,

Patrons, caracturist Gerald Scarfe (above) and illustrator Posy Simmonds (left).
Cliff Wright, Daisy de Villeneuve, Diego Jacquet, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Korky Paul, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Peter Blake, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Cliff Wright (illustrator), Daisy de Villeneuve (fashion illustrator) and chef Diego Jacquet (above).
David Downton draws Erin O'Connor, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Korky Paul (illustrator, above centre) and artist Peter Blake (above).
Andrew Logan, Big Draw London Launch 2004

David Downton (fashion illustrator) draws his muse, model Erin O'Connor (above); artist Andrew Logan (left), Robert Duncan (illustrator) and his daughter chef Lotte Duncan (right).
Robert and Lotte Duncan, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Grizelda Grisslingham, Katherine Lamb, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Duncan McCoshan, Giorgio Locatelli, Jem Packer, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Caroline Holden, Rosie Brooks, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Grizelda Grizzlingham and Katherine Lamb (above left), Caroline Holden and Rosie Brooks (above right), cartoonists all!
Steve Way, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Duncan McCoshan, Jem Packer (cartoonists) and chef Giorgio Locatelli (above centre).
Steve Way (cartoonist, left).
Michael Foreman , Tania Hurt-Newton, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Steven Appleby, Martin Rowson, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Matt Buck, Simon Spilsbury, Big Draw London Launch 2004

Michael Foreman and Tania Hurt-Newton (illustrators) above.

Steven Appleby and Martin Rowson (cartoonists) above.

Matt Buck (cartoonist) and Simon Spilsbury (illustrator) above.

Hat, Mask and Costume Making, Portraiture, Cartooning and Architecture Workshops

Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004

Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004

Pencil Bowling Balls, Art Waiters and Plates, Visitors Scroll and Performance Art with Hatstand Opera, Guildhall School of Music, Unicyclists and Vivid

Emma Churchill, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Paul Taylor, West Walls Studios, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
West Walls Studios, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Hatstand Opera, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Hatstand Opera, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Guidhall School of Music, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Unicyclist, Big Draw London Launch 2004
Big Draw London Launch 2004
Vivid, Big Draw London Launch 2004

More photos

Other launch events: South West, South East, East, East Midlands, West Midlands, North West, Yorkshire, North East, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland