Sonya Parra London live event illustrator

Live guest portraits, fashion illustration and brand activations for luxury brands and events

I'm a fashion and live event illustrator, creating guest portraits and live illustration for luxury brand activations, product launches and private events. I work across London, the UK and internationally. Each portrait is drawn live on paper or iPad, so every guest leaves with a personal keepsake that carries your brand.

Live Illustration for Luxury Events

With over 25 years of experience, I specialise in creating expressive fashion illustrations and guest portraits in real time. I work in traditional ink and watercolour or digitally on iPad, and I adapt the style and pace to each event: five-minute portraits for high-volume activations, eight-minute three-quarter portraits, and ten-minute full-figure illustrations for more intimate VIP occasions.

My work includes live illustration and product personalisation for Dolce & Gabbana across their London boutiques and Harrods over three years, painting handbags, wallets, belts and sneakers for customers, many of whom asked me to sign their pieces as keepsakes. I created live illustration for the Montblanc x Ferrari collaboration, and for the Samsung London 2012 Olympics activation I drew guests' designs on a phone, which were printed straight onto official Samsung T-shirts, with about a hundred guests a day taking one home. More recently, I drew digital portraits on iPad using Procreate software at the V&A Summer Soirée, capturing guests in the evening's gold finery.

Every illustration reflects both the individual and the atmosphere of the occasion. Branding, custom paper and product personalisation are all available, so the artwork feels fully integrated with your event identity.

Planning a wedding? →