Helen is the founder of Sketchface, a creative drawing movement based in Chelmsford that helps people rediscover the joy of drawing. She’s also an unapologetic early bird, often waking at 4:44am and using the hour between 5 and 6am as her creative power hour.

Sketchface is designed to level the playing field. It doesn’t matter whether you can draw or not. Through playful exercises and simple rules, participants are encouraged to get out of their own way, let go of perfectionism, and enjoy the creative process. Sessions are fuelled by music, movement and experimentation, creating a space where people can make work freely without worrying about getting it wrong.

We discuss how many people lose confidence in drawing through their experiences at school, and how Helen’s approach helps people reconnect with creativity. Exercises often include drawing with a continuous line, drawing without looking at the paper, using a non-dominant hand, or holding a pencil from the very top. The rules act as a "get out clause", removing the pressure to control the outcome and helping participants avoid judging their work too harshly.

A popular warm-up exercise is “writing for the bin” – creating something with no expectation of keeping it, simply to enjoy the process before throwing it away. Sketchface embraces this mindset throughout, encouraging play rather than performance.

At Sketchface events, participants both draw and pose for one another, creating an interesting dynamic where everyone gets to observe and be observed. Drawings are exchanged at the end of the session. This leads to a conversation about vulnerability, including Nick’s memorable experience of drawing a life model as a centaur and then having to show it during a serious critique session.

We talk about the strange intensity of sitting and looking at someone for sixty seconds, and Helen’s giant soft emotional-support pencil, which participants can cuddle if they feel uncomfortable posing.

The philosophy behind Sketchface is heavily influenced by illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and her belief that drawing can be a tool for connection rather than judgement. Helen asks a simple question: if creativity only makes you feel bad about yourself, why would you continue doing it?

The conversation also explores Helen’s background in art psychotherapy and the fashion industry, her habit of drawing a self-portrait every day for the last five years, and how daily creative rituals can become a meaningful practice. Nick compares this to his own project of taking a photograph in the first photo booth he encountered each day for a year.

Other topics include drawing on the floor rather than at a desk or easel, Sangita draws for the first time in years, the surprisingly difficult challenge of drawing trees, the emotional complexity of illustrating hugs, Nick’s recommendation of the game Six Second Scribbles, and the importance of creating environments where people feel safe enough to experiment.

Ultimately, Sketchface is less about learning to draw and more about learning to enjoy drawing again.

Helen Girling Art
Sketch Face

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

Olly Thatcher AKA Olly Thatchh is a content creator from Basildon (or Bas Vegas, depending on who you ask). Starting out behind the camera as a photographer, videographer and music video creator, he built a production company creating on-brand content for businesses before stepping in front of the lens to become a creator in his own right.

Spotting a lack of Essex representation on social media, Olly set out to showcase the county's hidden talent, culture and character. He's on a mission to flip the tired Essex stereotype and show that there's far more to the county than teeth and tans. Essex is a place of many identities, from the coastline and countryside to its towns, cities and creative communities. As Olly puts it, Southend is basically the LA of England: palm trees, a pier, a ferris wheel and incredible sunsets. Canvey is Miami!

Through his videos, Olly explores unusual places, local history and overlooked stories. Essex's past is so rich it could easily fill a 20-part HBO drama series. His approach to content creation is simple: keep filming. The best moments often happen spontaneously, and the more time you spend behind the camera, the better your instincts become.

Olly has been making videos since childhood. Armed with camcorders, he already knew what he wanted to do. He taught himself to edit, studied successful creators, and learned how to craft engaging content before building audiences on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. His advice? Ignore the view count and make the videos you want to make.

We talk about documenting local culture, why behind-the-scenes content often outperforms the polished final product, and how his social channels have become a powerful marketing tool for his production company, OVisuals. We also discuss Cash In Hand, the Essex-made TV show he's worked on, the rise of Essex pride and "geezer hustle culture", and whether a new South Essex cultural movement is beginning to emerge.

Along the way we celebrate the unique character of Essex's towns and cities, the importance of independent businesses, and the value of capturing a vibe rather than chasing perfection. We also hear about approaching strangers for interviews, the realities of content creation, and how his partner Jess helps bring many of his adventures to life while creating her own vintage fashion content - big up the Year 2K early 2000s fashion @jessicajoanlouise.

Plus: South Woodham Ferrers facts, Rayleigh appreciation, and Nick's latest public artwork — The Dogs' Bollard for Concrete Canvas Chelmsford.

Olly Thatch instagram

OVisuals instagram

Olly on TikTok

Jess 2K fashion on insta

Cash In Hand

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support

David Bishop is a adult vinyl toy custom artist. Originally from Billericay. Basically, he draws and paints on expensive collectible figures - like Dunny and BearBrick. David got into collecting through vinyl records, the magazine Straight No Chaser, and Mo’Wax records, and then the street artist Futura2000. It was a whole cultural world that appealed to him. Labubu from PopMart is like a modern limited edition adult collectible. He lived in Brighton and was deep in music culture, jazz, big beat, art, Skint Records. Pre-internet culture was knowledge from magazines and meeting other fans, and it was hard to come by items, there was joy in the quest. Japanese Niwaki secateurs. Pharell Williams and Kayne West have both used visuals with Japanese designers and collectable culture. Why has David got beef with Kaws!? Some customisation artists like to resculpt collectibles, but David prefers to just paint them. He gets a vinyl figure, strips the paint off with acetone (carefully), spraypaints a base colour and then uses Posca pens to create patterns. His style is detailed layers of graffiti over the toys. He learned fine art at university and wanted to be a painter. He saw a Kid Robot pop-up at Selfridges, and bought a Munny to customise. He posted it on an early website, and a lot of people had positive comments and there was a supportive Kid Robot community that still exists across social media today. David exhibits at ToyCon at Hammersmith, the biggest custom toy fair in the UK. The shape of the figure and the Posca pen nib will lead his art, he usually starts without a plan and sees where it takes him. Getting emotionally attached to commissions and having to let them go. Some artists don’t spend as long on the back because most people only see the front, NOT DAVID, he gives it all love. David mostly exports customs to America, Japan, and Europe. Flippers will buy customs and sell them on for a profit. David is our most chill guest ever. Digital detox and getting away from screens. Customising Jerry figures by Modern Toss. Art is like meditation for David, time just drifts away. He painted an Open Reach box for the Concrete Canvas street art festival with some Chelmsford cultural legends - Squarepusher and Ceephax Acid Crew. Customising sneakers for collectors. Painting trains. SEE IT, SPRAY IT, SORTED. You can start customising by buying a cheap old blank vinyl toy - check out the sellers at ToyCon!

RunDMB website
RunDMB Instagram

Are You Creative? recorded by Adam at Lawker Media, Chelmsford, ESSEX
Edited by Nick Hearne
Artwork by Alpaca Antenna

Don't forget to like, subscribe, share and all the good stuff.

Follow our Instagram for latest news and behind the scenes photos

Send comments, questions, or suggestions for fascinating creative people in Essex give us a shout on our Instagram

Thanks to NGDA for their support