Getting drawn into Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival

Getting drawn into Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival on Saturday 20 April and Sunday 21 April 2013 is easy as there are seven ‘have-a-go’ workshops over the weekend.

All are completely free and suitable for different ages.  The cartooning fun is not the only thing that is free.  Car parking in Abbey Foregate, St Julian’s Friars and Frankwell Main Car Parks will be free on Sunday 21 April. 

In keeping with this year’s festival theme of Time, Cathy Simpson leads a family drop-in workshop for all ages from 6 to 106.  Participants will create fantasy 3D cartoon cuckoo clocks. 

Also making the most of “Time” is Chichi Parish who will help participants explore time travel through drawing cartoon strips.  Chichi’s workshop is also for all ages 7+ to adults, and participants should book spaces at Shrewsbury Visitor Information Centre on 01743 258888.  Both workshops are at Shropshire Wildlife Trust on Saturday 20 April.  

Older children and adults who want to develop their art in more detail are invited to a workshop over two days led by artist and writer Brick.  Brick will guide participants through a process, resulting in everyone creating their own mini comic by the end of the weekend.  This workshop must also be booked through Shrewsbury Visitor Information Centre on 01743 258888 as spaces are limited. 

Four further workshops are on offer over the weekend.  Festival favourite Tim Harries will help kids of all ages write and draw comic strips on Saturday afternoon at 1a Castle Gates and on Sunday morning at the same venue. 

Will Dawbarn, who draws for the Beano, promises to show you How to Draw Absolutely Anything at the same venue on Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. 

All these workshops are free and drop-in, so there is no need to book.  Just turn up on the day. 

Some of the comic strips, cartoons and creations from the workshops will be going on display in Bear Steps Gallery from 11am Sunday 21 April until Sunday 5 May 2013. 

Cartoon Festival fun will be happening in The Square and Shrewsbury Market Hall on both Saturday 20 April and Sunday 21 April.  The Market Hall is opening specially for the event, and to help celebrate the Festival’s tenth birthday there will be free cupcakes for the first 100 ten-year-olds.  

Shrewsbury Cartoon Festival is currently the only Cartoon Festival in the UK, and the longest running.  It is supported and organised by the Professional Cartoonists Organisation, Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury Town Council and several private sector partners and sponsors.  There is more information at www.shrewsburycartoonfestival.com.