Discover fashion illustration – new workshop comes to Manchester

Do you have a passion for fashion? Do you want to draw like Gruau? Or maybe you're just looking for a new avenue in your creative career? Well, on 28 May, you can dip your toe into the waters of fashion illustration at The Department of Coffee in Spinningfields, Manchester.

It's a two-hour evening event starting at 6:30pm. You can find out more via the link at the bottom of this story. The fee is £35. The event is being held by the successful fashion illustrators Elyse Blackshaw and Daria Stephenson, who work in very different styles and whose aim will be to get you drawing and expressing yourself on paper there and then. It's a chance to create your own take on any area of fashion that interests you.

"The focus is mainly on live illustration and process, but we'll be on hand to answer any questions or give advice on how to get your work out there. I have found, in the industry, that once you show you can draw consistently in a set style, then you can apply it to any context or product," says Elyse Blackshaw, who has been hosting live fashion illustration workshops for the last six years.

Elyse will be joined by Daria Stephenson, an experienced fashion illustrator new to presenting workshops. Both work in London but are originally from Northwest England, and decided to collaborate on an event that would bring the energy and vibrancy of the live illustration to Greater Manchester. Depending on how it goes, they may take the workshop to other UK cities.

"It's a chance for people to try something new in a good company," says Daria. "Because our sketching styles are very different, it should be doubly interesting."

While Elyse's style is eclectic and arty, full of immediacy, Daria's is cute and fun, almost cartoony. This juxtaposition, in itself, demonstrates the breadth of opportunity in live event illustration. It's a growth area in the creative industry because of the way it enables brands to truly connect with their customers.

There's nothing like seeing a beautiful new line of garments or accessories launched and receiving a hand-drawn portrait of yourself as a memento of the occasion. Can you imagine generative AI being charged with the duty? It really would kill the vibe.

Guided by artists with different perspectives, styles and skill sets, during the first hour of the workshop, you'll get to know different media with some quick-fire mark making to loosen up. Then, during the Explore part of the event, participants can slow down, choose the materials they're most comfortable with and make an illustration. Preconceptions about perfectionism and the snobbishness of haute couture will be thrown out the window.

"Personality and energy are at the heart of the workshop," continues Elyse. "It's very much about getting to know how to make materials work for you, experimenting with fast-paced techniques, and becoming fearless. We will have some amazing fashion imagery for reference and will provide a range of our favourite drawing materials to try out."

Neither an illustration background nor a love of fashion is required. Interestingly, neither host trained in illustration – Elyse studied embroidery, and Daria came from the retail side. It's further testament to the fact that if you want to express yourself through drawing, it's possible to give this a shot and succeed.

"I used to work in fashion, from retail to styling, and got into fashion illustration accidentally – tried something new and loved it," says Daria. "I'm a self-taught artist and don't have any art background or special education."