We asked. You answered. And wow—what a colorful, creative bunch we are!
Over 95 sketchers spilled the ink (and tea) on what makes Urban Sketchers London so special. From rainy-day sketch adventures to the eternal quest for the nearest café (or ahem, toilets), here’s the lowdown on our wonderfully quirky community.
Meet Your Fellow Urban Sketchers
Age is Just a Number (but here’s ours anyway)
We’ve got teenagers to octogenarians wielding sketchbooks, but the biggest group? The “Golden Sketch Squad” (55-64)—a full third of us! Close behind are the “Young & Sketchy” (25-34) and the “Retired But Inspired” (65+). Special shoutout to our 75+ superstars who still out-sketch us all!
Artistic Credentials: Fancy Degrees Optional
- 40% “Hobbyists Who Just Love Doodling” – No formal training? No problem!
- 20% “Pros Who Get Paid to Do This (Lucky Them)” – Architects, illustrators, and even an art teacher who confessed: “I learn more from you all than my students do from me!”
- 15% “Self-Taught Sorcerers of Sketch” – YouTube tutorials and stubbornness count as education, right?
Where We’re Sketching From
- 45% Londoners – From Hackney to Hampstead, we’re everywhere.
- 30% “Weekend Warriors” – Hopping trains from Bristol, Brighton, and beyond.
- 15% “Jet-Setting Sketchers” – One Dutch duo plans their London holidays around our sketchwalks. Flattered!
Why We Keep Coming Back
The Magic of the Throwdown
Nothing beats that moment when we sprawl our sketches on the ground (or a pub table) and go: “HOW did you make that brick wall look so good?!”
Top reasons you love USKL:
- “The friendliest people I’ve ever met while pretending not to stare at buildings.”
- “Free art school. But with more laughter and less critique.”
- “I once sketched in a hailstorm. Still had fun. That’s saying something.”
The Great Café & Loo Expedition
Let’s be real—40 of you said toilet info is crucial. Message received! We’ll keep scouting those sketchwalk-adjacent facilities.
And for the history buffs (we see you, a quarter of you who crave backstories):
Historian-needed: Want to write a fun ‘Did You Know?’ blurb for our sketchwalk locations next year? Drop us an email if you love nerding out on London’s hidden past! Let’s make every sketchwalk a time-travel adventure.
The Quirky Bits
Confessions of a Sketchwalk Newbie
One first-timer admitted:
“I was terrified. Then someone handed me a biscuit. Now I’m hooked.”
Most Unexpected Sketchwalk Moment
- “A swan stole my pencil. Then posed for me.”
- “We once had a throwdown in a crypt. Spooky and atmospheric.”
- “A tourist asked if we were an art cult. We said yes.”
Your Dream Locations (The Unfiltered Wishlist)
- “Somewhere with seating. My knees aren’t what they used to be.”
- “A pub. Just… a pub.”
- “That weirdly beautiful brutalist car park in Barbican.”
What’s Next?
Planning for 2026 Starts Now — Get Involved!
Do you know a brilliant place to draw?
Are you familiar with one of the suggested wishlist spots?
Or just want to say “I’m interested!”?
Now is the perfect time to step forward.
We’re shaping next year’s calendar right now — and we need you!
Get in touch before the end of August to suggest a location or express interest in volunteering.
Drop us a message, talk to a team member at the next sketchwalk, or email urbansketcherslondon(at)gmail.com.
Let’s make 2026 our most sketchable year yet.
Together.
Thinking of Leading a Sketchwalk? We’ve Got Your Back.
If you’re thinking, “I’d love to help… but I’ve never done this before,” — you’re not alone. In fact, lots of people in our survey said the same thing.
Here’s the great news:
You don’t need to be a professional artist, public speaker, or event planner.
You just need to love sketching, enjoy exploring London, and want to share that joy with others. One of the admin team will work with you and will be there on the day.
What Does It Actually Involve?
The role is simple — and we’ll support you every step of the way:
Scout a Location (ideally 2 months before the sketchwalk)
- Pick a meeting point and throwdown spot, and pinpoint it on a map
- Take a photo of the meeting point with the What3Words address.
- Note cafes, loos, rain shelters, and sketchable views
- Snap a few more reference photos
Write a Blog Post
We’ll send you a friendly checklist and template — and help you edit and polish the final version.
Think of it as sharing your favourite place to draw with a few extra tips added in.
Show Up on the Day
Arrive a little early to greet people, explain the schedule, and enjoy the sketching fun!
You’ll never walk alone — an admin team member or fellow sketcher will always be there to support you.
After the Sketchwalk
Send us group photos from the throwdowns and post a short recap with a few photos or sketches on our Facebook Group page. That’s it!
“But I’ve never done this before!” – Perfect! Some of our best leaders started exactly where you are now. To begin with, you’ll be paired with a more experienced sketchwalk lead, and we’ll support you all the way. One of the admin team is always on hand to assist during planning — and there’s always at least one admin team member present at every sketchwalk too.
As one sketchwalk leader puts it: “It’s basically just showing friends your favourite place to draw… with slightly more organisation.”
Final Brushstroke
Whether you’re a “rain-or-shine regular” or a “still-working-up-the-courage newbie”, this survey proved one thing: Urban Sketchers London is more than a group—it’s a wildly creative tribe.
So keep those pencils sharp, those watercolors wet, and those loo locations coming. Let’s make the next sketchwalk-filled year the best one yet.
See you at the next throwdown!
—The USKL Admin Team
