Live Illustration at the Olympia - London’s Room of Requirement
- Julia Bakay
- Mar 31
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 10
If walls could talk…
London Olympia first opened in 1886, and ever since, it’s been like a blank canvas for creative minds. It’s a venue where, quite literally, anything’s possible. London Olympia has hosted a wide range of captivating events over the centuries, from the ground-breaking 1862 International Exhibition, the 1908 Olympic Games, the 1934 Cat Show, the 1965 Penny Black stamp exhibition, and the 1974 Motor Show, all the way to modern fashion shows and trade fairs, cementing its place as a hub for cultural, commercial, and artistic innovation.
London’s ‘Room of Requirement’; the Olympia can transform into anything you need it to be.
As I was illustrating an event there, it dawned on me that I'm - by far - not the first illustrator to be working between those glass walls. Before photography was widely accessible, many illustrators worked to capture the events happening at the scene... And what an honour it is to follow their footsteps!
Types of Live Illustration
Live Illustration was used to document important events before the advent of photography. However, this niche skillset is still widely sought after at certain events...
Live Illustration in Courtrooms
When I tell people that I do Live Illustration, most immediately think of illustrators working at court. It’s one of the only places where photography is often not permitted, but visual documentation is still necessary, thus the noble profession of Sketch Artists is still going strong.
Live Illustration at Weddings
There’s also a trend of inviting Live Illustrators to one’s wedding, so they can illustrate the couple or the guests as a unique gift to take away.
Live Illustration a.k.a. Graphic Recording, Scribing, and Visual Note Taking
The type of Live Illustration I do is different from the above as...
I don’t draw the people, I draw what they say
Hence my title, Keynote Artist - I visually capture and connect the key ideas I hear. By the end of the event you have a visual map of the key takeaways - ready to share on the big screen at the venue, or with everyone on social media! To learn more about the wonderful world of Live Graphic Recording, read on!
It’s exciting to think that I’ve been the first ever Keynote Artist to work at Olympia.
Live Illustration at London Olympia
I'm so grateful to have a profession that opens doors like this.
All this thanks to an invitation to live illustrate a brilliant event hosted by Hyve Group; Source Fashion! Read on to learn about my Live Illustration experience at London Olympia, and to see what we created!
Images thanks to London Olympia and Source Fashion
