What is a Live Caricature Artist Exactly?

Someone who comes to your event and draws exaggerated light-hearted portraits of the guests, on the spot. Artist sets up like this, with two chairs and an easel

live caricature artist setup with easel and two charis for guests

Guests sit for about 3 - 5 minutes each …

And they get a drawing like this to take home …

Hopefully there will be laughter all round!


There are exceptions, but usually …

  • The drawings are done with quick-drying markers, so no risk of smudges on hands or clothes. Some artists start each sketch in pencil first and then go over it with marker.

  • Paper will be either standard A4 size, or the larger A3 paper (A3 is double the size of A4)

  • Artist normally sits at the easel, but a few like to walk around among guests

  • Takes about 5 minutes for each drawing

  • Guest get either an elastic band to roll up their drawing to take home, or a clear plastic sleeve like this …

You can usually arrange with the caricaturist beforehand to have your logo or a message put on each sheet. Eg if you are having a live artist at your wedding you can get (“Wedding of Gary & Elaine”) printed on the bottom of each sheet.

Most caricature artists you can book by the hour.

Caricature artists are suited to work at parties or corporate events. Often a caricaturist is booked as the unexpected wedding entertainment, waiting for the guests at the hotel to entertain them while the wedding party are having the photographs taken

[CLICK to see examples of my live work on this page] and elsewhere on the site.