Live Illustrating the Muddy Devon Awards 2026 at Quayside Distillery

This year I had the wonderful opportunity to be the live illustrator at the Muddy Devon Awards 2026, held at Quayside Distillery on Exeter's historic Quay.

If you don't know the Muddy Stilettos Awards, they celebrate the best businesses across Devon in categories from best bar to best wedding venue, with the very best taking home the prize. It's a brilliant celebration of the businesses that make our county so special, and I felt so lucky to be part of the evening.

Setting the scene

Quayside Distillery was the perfect backdrop for the celebrations. Tucked right on Exeter's Quay, it's a beautiful, characterful venue with a relaxed, industrial-chic feel, with the water just outside the window. It made a stunning setting for a night celebrating Devon's independent business community.

My role for the evening

I was illustrating outdoors, overlooking the quay itself in the beautiful evening golden hour. With just 2 hours to live illustrate in, I got straight to work with chatting to the guests, taking their photos, and putting pen to paper.

Live illustration is such a lovely way to add something memorable to an evening like this. Guests could stop by, watch the drawing take shape, and take home a piece of the night with them: the perfect keepsake of a celebration that meant so much to so many wonderful local businesses.

A brilliant evening all round

A huge thank you to Emma from Muddy Devon for having me - I had a wonderful evening!

If you're planning an awards ceremony, gala, or any kind of celebration and think live illustration could add something special to your evening, I'd love to hear from you — get in touch to check my availability.