Trade Show & Conference Caricatures
That Draw A Crowd
Live digital caricatures on iPad with a big screen display.
Attracting attention • Sparking conversations • Leaving lasting impressions.
27 years’ experience • 3000+ events worldwide • Trusted by NASA, Pixar, Apple and Microsoft
Trade-show & Conference Caricatures That Draw A Crowd
Live digital caricatures on iPad
with a big screen display.
Attracting attention • Sparking conversations
Leaving lasting impressions.
27 years’ experience • 3000+ events worldwide • Trusted by NASA, Pixar, Apple and Microsoft
More Footfall. More Buzz.
More Impact.
Trade shows, exhibitions and conferences are busy, competitive environments. If you want to stand out, you need something that gives people a reason to stop.
Live digital caricatures do exactly that. The big screen display attracts attention from across the hall, while the live drawing creates a natural crowd
— making your stand feel busy, visible and worth exploring.
It’s interactive, entertaining and genuinely memorable. Guests leave with a branded caricature they’re likely to keep or share, not just another throwaway freebie.
More Footfall. More Buzz. More Impact.
Trade shows, exhibitions and conferences are busy, competitive environments. If you want to stand out, you need something that gives people a reason to stop.
Live digital caricatures do exactly that. The big screen display attracts attention from across the hall, while the live drawing creates a natural crowd
— making your stand feel busy, visible and worth exploring.
It’s interactive, entertaining and genuinely memorable. Guests leave with a branded caricature they’re likely to keep or share, not just another throwaway freebie.
See Live Caricatures At Trade Events In Action
See Live Caricatures At Trade Events In Action
Live digital caricatures don’t just entertain – they help your stand feel busy, engaging and memorable.
Here’s what guests experience on the day. See more in the full gallery →
Live digital caricatures don’t just entertain — they help your stand feel busy, engaging and memorable. Here’s what guests experience on the day.
See more in the full gallery →
How it works
1. We plan around your event
We’ll discuss your stand, audience and branding. Caricatures can be customised with your logo, campaign message or event theme.
2. Live drawing at your stand
I bring everything I need and draw guests live on iPad at your event space, with the process shown on a large screen to help attract attention.
3. Prints guests actually keep
Each branded caricature is printed on the spot. It gives guests something personal to take away and keeps you in their minds long after the show.
4. Digital copies ready to share
Guests can also receive digital versions via email or Airdrop, making them easy to share on social media or internally after the event.
How it works
We plan your event
To adapt to your stand, audience & branding
I draw at your stand
Bringing everything I need I also bring over the delegates
Personalised printed giveaways
Printed on the spot, the guests love them!
Digital copies shared instantly
By email, QR code or Airdrop
Some of the companies we’ve worked with
Why Live Caricatures Work So Well
at Trade Shows & Conferences
Why Live Caricatures
Work So Well
at Trade Shows & Conferences
A busy stand gets noticed. A memorable experience gets remembered. A great giveaway gets talked about.
A busy stand gets noticed.
A memorable experience gets remembered.
A great giveaway gets talked about.
Turns Passing Interest Into Real Footfall
Trade shows and conferences are busy, competitive spaces. Live digital caricatures give people a reason to stop, helping your stand feel busy, visible and worth exploring from across the hall.
- The live drawing and big screen display naturally attract attention
- Caricatures don’t stay on your stand – they circulate around the event, bringing more people back as they go
- Optional email delivery for simple, GDPR-friendly lead capture
Give Guests Something Worth Keeping
The trade show experience doesn’t end when someone walks away from your stand. Live caricatures give guests a genuinely memorable takeaway — something personal, fun and far more likely to be kept than most standard giveaways.
- Printed on the spot and branded with your logo or event message
- Digital versions can be shared on social media, used internally, or as profile images
- A personal keepsake that helps your brand stay remembered after the event
Branded & Themed Caricatures
Branded & Themed Caricatures
Designed Around Your Brand, Campaign or Event
Caricatures can be fully customised to your brand, campaign or event theme — placing guests into a tailored scene that feels on-brand and visually distinctive.
Each design is created to reflect your message or environment, from subtle branding through to fully themed campaign artwork, giving every drawing a consistent, high-impact look.
- Fully customised to your branding, campaign or message
- Guests drawn into a themed, pre-designed scene
- Consistent, high-impact look across every caricature
- More visually striking and shareable than standard drawings
- Used by global brands at trade shows, conferences and events
Why Book Sensible Pencil
With 25+ years of live event experience, I know how to make caricatures work in busy trade show and conference environments.
I don’t just draw – I become part of your stand. I’m used to working alongside sales teams, attracting the right people, managing queues
– keeping things running smoothly without needing direction.
I engage guests confidently, helping create natural opportunities for your team to step in and connect.
All caricatures are drawn live by hand, not AI-generated – a big part of what makes people stop, watch and get involved.
The drawings themselves are sharp, flattering and highly polished, shaped by decades of live event experience.
Trusted by global brands
I’ve worked with organisations including NASA, Pixar, J.P Morgan and many leading international companies.
27+ years of live event experience
Thousands of events worldwide, including trade shows, conferences and brand activations.
Engaging, hand-drawn experience
Attracts attention and keeps working as the caricatures circulate around the event – all drawn live, no AI.
Professional, proactive and easy to work with
I’ll fit seamlessly into your stand, manage the flow of guests and support your team throughout the event.
Why Book Sensible Pencil
With 25+ years of live event experience, I know how to make caricatures work in busy trade show and conference environments.
I don’t just draw – I become part of your stand. I’m used to working alongside sales teams, attracting the right people, managing queues
– keeping things running smoothly without needing direction.
I engage guests confidently, helping create natural opportunities for your team to step in and connect.
All caricatures are drawn live by hand,
not AI-generated – a big part of what makes people stop, watch and get involved.
The drawings themselves are sharp and highly polished, shaped by decades of live event experience.
Trusted by global brands
I’ve worked with organisations including NASA, Pixar, J.P Morgan and many leading international companies.
27+ years of live event experience
Thousands of events worldwide, including trade shows, conferences and brand activations.
Engaging, hand-drawn experience
Attracts attention and keeps working as the caricatures circulate around the event – all drawn live, no AI.
Professional, proactive and easy to work with
I’ll fit seamlessly into your stand, manage the flow of guests and support your team throughout the event.
What Clients Say
Exhibition Stand
“Christian was brilliant from start to finish – professional, friendly and incredibly talented. He drew a constant stream of delegates and it was a very successful event.”
E. Clark, Microsoft
Conference Booth
“we stood head and shoulders above our competitors, particularly because of the excellent caricatures”
N. Walthew, Allianz Global Investors
Trade Show
Sensible Pencil played a crucial role in the success of our events. His talent and engaging personality not only enhanced the overall experience but also helped connections among attendees and increase our social media presence.
C. Latham, Onefile
Practical Details
What equipment do you supply?
I supply all equipment needed for the setup, designed to be as clean and wireless as possible. This includes iPad, printer, connectivity and display.
I can provide a large screen and stand, or work with your own screen if it’s set up correctly. All I require is access to a standard power supply.
What do you need from us?
A power supply and a visible space on your stand where guests can easily see and engage with the setup. I also request the use of two stools and a small space to store a backpack.
How much space do you need?
Not much. The setup is compact and fully self-contained, designed to fit comfortably within most exhibition stands.
I typically work from a small branded area or fixed position, creating a clear focal point without disrupting your layout.
For digital caricatures with a large screen, I usually need around 30 minutes to set up and a space of approximately 1.5m x 1.5m.
How many guests can you draw during an event?
That depends on timings and format, but the focus is always on maintaining a steady flow and keeping energy on your stand.
Digital caricatures are particularly effective for exhibitions, balancing strong guest engagement with branded output and instant sharing. Typically, I draw around 8–12 people per hour.
Can the caricatures be branded?
Yes — caricatures can be fully customised to match your brand, campaign or event theme.
Logos, messaging and themed designs can all be incorporated, creating a consistent, high-impact look across every drawing. Additional branding can also be included on prints, lanyards and email delivery.
What do guests receive?
Guests receive a printed caricature on the spot, along with a digital version ready to share.
They can also choose to receive their caricature by email, providing a simple and natural way to capture contact details and follow up after the event if appropriate.
As guests move around the event with their caricatures, they naturally attract attention and help draw more people back to your stand.
Digital versions are ideal for social media, internal communications and profile images, helping extend your brand presence beyond the event.
Where do you work?
Available for trade shows, exhibitions and conferences across the UK, Europe and internationally. I regularly work at venues including London Excel, NEC Birmingham, Manchester Central, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, Fira Barcelona, Messe Wien and Zürich Convention Centre, among many others.
How much space does a trade show caricature artist need?
What setup is needed for live caricatures at an exhibition stand?
How do live digital caricatures work at trade shows and conferences?
How many guests can be drawn at a trade show or exhibition?
How many caricatures can be drawn per hour at an event?
Can caricatures be branded for exhibitions, trade shows and conferences?
Do guests receive digital copies of their caricatures?
What do guests receive from live caricatures at a trade show?
Are caricatures effective for exhibition stands and brand activations?
How do caricatures help attract visitors to a trade show stand?
Do live caricatures increase footfall and engagement at exhibitions?
Can a caricature artist work at conferences and networking events?
Are live caricatures suitable for brand activations and marketing events?
What is the best entertainment for a trade show stand?
How can I attract more visitors to my exhibition stand?
Make Your Stand Impossible to Ignore
Live digital caricatures that attract attention, create conversations and leave a lasting impression — before, during and after the event.
Make Your Stand
Impossible to Ignore
Live digital caricatures that attract attention, create conversations and leave a lasting impression — before, during and after the event.
Trade Show & Conference Caricature Artist – Sensible Pencil
Sensible Pencil is the professional caricature business of UK caricature artist Christian “Chrissy” Marshall, providing live digital caricature entertainment for trade shows, exhibitions, conferences and brand activations across the UK and internationally.
Founded in 1999, Sensible Pencil has drawn caricatures at more than 3,000 events worldwide, with extensive experience working on exhibition stands, conference spaces and high-profile brand activations.
Caricatures are created live on iPad or as traditional hand-drawn artwork, giving guests a personalised, memorable takeaway while helping attract attention and create engagement on your stand.
Live caricatures are particularly effective at trade shows, exhibitions and conferences, where they help increase footfall, create dwell time and provide natural opportunities for conversation between guests and stand staff.
Two main options are available:
- Digital caricatures – ideal for exhibitions and branded campaigns, with logos, themed artwork, instant prints and digital sharing
- Classic hand-drawn caricatures – fast, flexible sketches on paper with strong guest coverage
For trade shows and exhibitions, caricatures are typically delivered from a fixed, highly visible setup, creating a focal point that draws people in and helps build a crowd around your stand.
Sensible Pencil is known for being fast, engaging and easy to work with, with the ability to interact confidently with guests, manage flow on a busy stand and support teams in creating meaningful engagement.
Caricatures can be fully branded or themed to match a campaign, product or event, and can be printed or shared digitally. Guests can also choose to receive their caricature by email, providing a simple and natural way to capture contact details.
Clients include global brands, agencies and event teams across the UK, Europe and internationally, with regular work at venues such as ExCeL London, NEC Birmingham and major European exhibition centres.
All caricatures are drawn live by hand and are not generated using artificial intelligence.
You can check availability here.