Live Portraits
I create refined live portraits during your wedding, so guests leave with a thoughtful keepsake and your day gains a quiet point of theatre
For couples who care about atmosphere
You’ve put real thought into your wedding – the venue, the food, the music, the way it will feel for the people you love.
You want something for your guests that’s personal and memorable, but doesn’t shout over the day or feel like a novelty act.
Live portraits are a way to give your guests a considered, analog experience that fits quietly into everything else you’ve planned. Each drawing is a small, tangible reminder that they were there and that they mattered.
What live portraits bring to a wedding
A calm point of theatre
As the day unfolds, guests can watch portraits appear on the page – a gentle kind of entertainment that doesn’t need a microphone.
Something genuinely personal to take home
Each guest leaves with an original drawing made just for them, rather than another favour that ends up in a drawer.
A feeling of being seen
Sitting for a portrait is a brief moment of focused attention. The drawings are flattering and kind, so people feel good when they see themselves.
How it works
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I arrive in good time, check in with the venue or coordinator, and set up a small base where finished drawings can be left and collected.
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I’m mostly on my feet rather than in one fixed spot.
I move through the room with a clipboard, usually near natural gathering points like the bar, and invite guests for quick portraits.
As I draw one person, people watching often ask to be next.
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Each portrait takes a few minutes.
I start with overall shape and posture, then add details.
The aim is a flattering likeness, not a comedy cartoon – people should feel good when they see themselves.
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We can keep things roaming, create more of a seated area later on, or mix the two – it depends what suits your timings and space.
I’m happy to collaborate on the shape of things so it feels natural alongside everything else you’ve planned.
“I move through the room with a clipboard rather than hiding in a corner, inviting guests for quick portraits as the day unfolds.”
Meet your Illustrator
Hi, I’m Caleb – I’ll be the artist sketching your guests on the day.
I an illustrator based just outside Canterbury. Over the last fifteen‑plus years I’ve worked with animation and design studios, publishers and theatre companies, as well as drawing live at weddings and events. I have an MA in Illustration and a BA in Fine Art, and a lot of my work sits where portraits, storytelling and performance overlap.
Live wedding portraits are how I bring that experience into your day: real people, real time, and a level of craft that comes from years of drawing for books, stages and brands.