February’s Cover Star…

…every month (well, since February) I choose a new person to draw from my mailing list. The only criteria is that they need to have been added to my mailing list that month. So here is February’s winner…

…the glamourous Cheryl Huggins, who I had the absolute pleasure of meeting at a recent Ladies Who Latte networking event in Bromley on February 25th. Cheryl is a makeup artist, skincare expert and educator. She recently featured in Life in Bromley magazine, among many other achievements, and I will add her professional contact details at the end of my newsletter.

If you signed up for my newsletter in March, then next month’s illustrated cover star could be YOU!

The beautiful Cheryl Huggins, Make Up Artist and founder of Faceclays.

Me at work on an illustration at my stand during Bluewater Signature Wedding Show arranged by County Wedding Events.

On March 1st I went to the Bluewater Signature Wedding Show, organised by County Wedding Events. It was great fun, and extremely busy! I was expecting to be able to get a lot of drawing done, but I was so busy with enquiries that I only had time to do quick sketches of my lovely new acquaintances from neighbouring stalls.

Shout out to Freddie’s Flowers and Boho Acoustics. Kirsty from Freddie’s Flowers was so taken with her drawing that she asked to keep it in return for a beautiful bouquet. (It’s still going strong even now, so highly recommend Freddie’s Flowers!)

I was very glad to meet so many wonderful people at a very well-organised and friendly event. I even met up with my friend Wimbai again, we first met at Ladies Who Latte in Bromley, and there we were, right opposite each other in Dartford! Wimbai is an exceptional cake maker at @weecupcakes and her stall was exceptionally busy all day (unsurprisingly).

My neighbours on the other side were @bohoacoustic. They did not stop singing for the entire event! It was incredible to see and hear, so if you’re looking for wedding singers then do look them up.

I was surprised to note that there were still people looking at booking elements of their weddings for 2026. Most visitors had set their dates for 2027 and beyond, some even as far ahead as 2030! As I still have some dates available in 2026, I am offering you 10% off any of my illustration packages- so long as you book me by March 31st.

Booking is easy, just email me and we can arrange a phone call or Zoom to discuss your requirements. All packages can be tweaked to accommodate your own individual needs. Remember, some day soon all weddings will have a live event illustrator so don’t miss out! Guests absolutely love being drawn, or giving portraits of the couple as a wedding or anniversary gift. It’s a lovely way to show you’re appreciation.

Why book me? I draw faces! I focus on likenesses, expressions and style.

If you missed me at the Bluewater Signature Wedding Fair, then you have another chance to see me at the National Wedding Show at Excel London on October 17th and 18th.

Here’s a video of my stand at Bluewater…

I completed a fantastic business course at the end of February, which was run by Brenda Kola and Shanice Tomlinson of Become Orbit. It was a course for local business founders delivered by Impact Studios at Up Croydon. I met some absolutely wonderful people and learnt so much. On the last evening we had a celebration and I drew everyone, as a special gift to them.

So, if you ever wondered what the future of Croydon looks like, here we are…

I’m booking up some Private Events (hooray! Let me know if you need an illustrator at your next event- here I am!).

My flyer for SoCro Art pop up market event- featuring an image of me at Bluewater Signature Wedding Show (which is probably quite confusing so I think I’d better change the photo!)

Here are some public events you can meet me at, do come and say hello. Next month I’ll be hosting a stand at The Coach House Cafe at Coombe Wood as part of the SoCro Pop Up Art Market.

The market starts on March 21st and I’ll be there on Sunday April 26th. I’ll be live illustrating visitors on the day, so if you’re visiting the beautiful woods, gardens or cafe pop over and I’ll draw you as individuals or a family group. I’ll also have some of my postcards and prints of fashion illustrations for sale- and of course I’ll have my bookings open for Weddings and Live Events as well as portrait commissions and graphic recordings. Phew!

Self-portrait illustration of Zoe Parker Illustration packed up and ready for a Dress Up and Draw workshop.

My Dress Up and Draw workshops are returning! The next one is at the beautiful Hive Design studio in Sanderstead on May 1st, with another one at the same location booked in on June 19th. I’ll add the booking link here .

What is a Dress Up and Draw Workshop, you may be wondering?

•It’s a workshop for people who love clothes and love dressing up- and who’d like to try fashion illustration. •Maybe you have a wardrobe with some wonderful clothes that you just don’t have the opportunity to wear anymore?•Maybe you love the idea of dressing up, but haven’t done since childhood? •Maybe you love art and fashion and would love to learn how  to combine the two?

I’ll take you through the basics of fashion illustration, using some simple templates at first. Then you’ll have a try at creating your own drawings of our model volunteers.

Everyone is welcome to model- or not- likewise everyone is welcome to dress up -or not! The clothes are all something that you can fling on on top of what you’re already wearing.

I’m looking at a new venue in Croydon, so local peeps watch this space. I’ll be sending out a questionnaire to a focus group soon to assess suitability. In the meantime, if you have any comments or would like to be part of the focus group then do get in touch.

That’s all for now- except a reminder for all the loved-up engaged couples (if you are one, or if you know one) that all my Live Wedding Illustration Packages have 10% off, for weddings taking place in 2026. Book by March 31st!

Now, here are some contact links for the amazing people and organisations I’ve mentioned:

Cheryl Huggins Life in Bromley Magazine Ladies Who Latte Bromley Bluewater Signature Wedding Show County Wedding Events Freddies Flowers Boho Acoustic Wee Cupcakes The National Wedding Show Become Orbit Up Croydon SoCro Art Coach House Cafe Hive Design Studio Dress Up and Draw Booking Link at the Hive

See you soon,

Zoe