This Valentine’s Day, I had the pleasure of offering live couples portraits for events at a magical Sofar Sounds concert held in one of the historic rooms of the Royal Academy in London. The venue’s classical charm, paired with an intimate lineup of acoustic performances, created the perfect atmosphere for capturing love through illustration.
Throughout the evening, I worked live inside the gig space, sketching both romantic couples and performers using black Polychromos pencil on A5 art card and branded A6 Sofar Sounds postcards. Each piece was finished with expressive, colourful highlights to reflect the energy of the music and the warmth of the occasion.
Each portrait took just 7–10 minutes, allowing me to draw many couples and live music moments during the night. Guests were able to take their portraits home immediately—and many shared their artwork on social media, extending the reach of the event in real time. Several illustrations were also featured across Sofar Sounds’ own social channels, giving the evening’s creative energy a wider digital presence.
Offering live couples portraits for events brings an interactive, personal element to any celebration. At this Sofar Sounds Valentine’s event, it helped deepen the emotional connection between guests and the evening’s performances.
It was an honour to combine live music, fine art, and love in such a unique setting—creating lasting memories one sketch at a time.
