Can't see the big picture? Maybe you need to draw it.

The meeting that never happened...

self portrait of the artist zoning out after a meeting…

We’ve all been there. A brilliant strategy day, a buzzing conference, a critical team meeting. But beyond the moment of connection and excitement your brain floats away for some R&R and the words fade as fast as a holiday tan.

You want to get back in the moment but, bless ‘em, the AI meeting notes don’t quite take you there.

What if you could see the connections as they happen so you remember it better? What if the entire conversation unfolded as a story, in pictures, right in front of you? What if you had that visual map to go back to afterwards, to get everyone back on the same page quickly and keep that collaborative process bubbling?

What if it was fun and, maybe even a bit funny…?

Live graphic recording of an interview with Carol Vorderman at the Byline Festival, 2025.

My brain, your story

My brain has always run at a million miles an hour. It’s a trait that led me to a high-energy career in journalism and charity communications, working at a senior level as Head of News for the British Red Cross and Head of Communications for two other charities before a career pivot at the start of 2025 into a related, but very different job - illustration.

An artist’s impression of Bex’s brain, filled with swirling, colourful patterns and interesting connections.

As a journalist and comms professional my job was always to find the real story, the human thread, in a storm of complex information. It still is, but now I use words AND drawing to do it.

Earlier this year (2025) I realised my journalist's ears (trained to listen), my comms-person brain (experienced at simplifying big ideas), and my illustrator's hand (quick, nimble and cheeky) could work together. After a lifetime thinking drawing was just something I enjoyed, but should keep as a hobby, I realise now that bringing it into the professional mix is my superpower.

Turning talk into treasure

This is where visual facilitation comes in. It's the art and science of turning your spoken words into a visible, shared story.

When I capture your meeting, conference, workshop or event, it’s not just note-taking. It’s visual scribing—an active process of listening, synthesising, and drawing the golden threads of what’s being said, live. This process, often called graphic recording or live illustration, transforms a one-way talk into a shared experience.

Suddenly, everyone is engaged. Everyone can see the connections. Everyone is, literally, on the same page.

How can graphic recording services help you?

My work as a visual recorder breaks down into three key areas:

Bex graphic recording the Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership Disability Showcase event in 2025. Photograph courtesy of: Sham Phat Photography.

An extract from an illustration created for a report launch by a new charity.

1. Live graphic recording: I come to your conference, workshop or strategy day and capture the conversation as it happens. My graphic recording facilitation helps keep your team focused, engaged, and ensures every great idea is captured. Studies show visuals can boost information recall by up to 65%.

2. Custom illustration: Do you have a complex report you’re worried no one will read, a vision and mission statement that’s not hitting people in the heart OR head, or a strategy that needs to come to life in people’s day-to-day, not just on your intranet? Graphic illustrators like me translate those dense concepts into simple, powerful images that people understand and remember.

3. Talking portraits: When people do speeches, that’s often where the stories are! How about getting me to graphic record your keynote speech, Ted Talk or work or business presentation? Stories are powerful. Don’t put all that effort into a speech just to lose the content once you’ve stepped down from the stage afterwards. I’m an illustrator who can help you put across your personality and purpose in drawings that are great for promoting a podcast appearance or giving people a compelling and eye-catching teaser for your Ted Talk.

How do you know you need me?

If you hear yourself (or your colleagues) saying any of the following, it's time to think visually:

• "How can we make our strategy day less boring?"

• "No one ever reads our annual report."

• "We need to make our next event more engaging."

• "Our team just isn't on the same page; they can't 'see' the big picture."

My job is to draw out your ideas and human stories, so everyone can see them, feel them, understand them, and—most importantly—remember them.

Ready to make your ideas visible? Let's talk.

Here’s more information on Graphic Recording, including pricing and set-up.

In my own words… my podcast interview with Design for Every Mind

Design for Every Mind graphic featuring Rosie Elvin, podcast host and founder of ADHD Focus.

Episode 1 of the new Design for Every Mind podcast features an interview with yours truly about my journey from journalist to comms to illustration and graphic recording, including my late diagnosis with ADHD and its impacts - challenging and life-changingly good!

Can you sing and draw at the same time? Nope, but nearly…

Last night I combined two of my passions - singing and live illustrating!

For three years I've been a regular performer at the Pucklechurch open mic. It's a wonderful welcoming forum for musicians to sing and play covers and originals. It's open to all and such a warm, friendly and encouraging space for people to perform and experiment, whether they're new to the stage or seasoned professionals.

I feel very lucky to live in a village where this is a regular event. It holds such an important place in my heart we came back from holiday a day early to avoid missing out.

Last night was packed. I sang two new songs written by me and Chris Lambert, my musical collaborator and, in between, captured this graphic recording to showcase the variety and quality of the other performers. Special thanks to my friend Adele who bravely drew me and Chris (as even I would struggle to sing and draw at the same time).

I've got live illustration (also known as live scribing or graphic recording) bookings for October-February now but still plenty of space for more, so if you have an event coming up in September, October or November and would like something different to help capture it and spread the word about what went on, afterwards, book me via my website bexgilbert.com. I am based in the Bristol area but can travel throughout the UK.

From crisis comms to creative calm: why I’m using live illustration to help good causes tell their story

Live graphic recording of a talk by Kate Raworth, author of Donut Economics, at the Byline Festival, 2025.

Back in 2021, after over 20 years working across journalism and charity communications — including more than a decade at the British Red Cross — I was promoted to Head of News. Professionally, I was flying high, it was my second promotion during a challenging period personally and this one came in the middle of a global pandemic.

But after 18 months in the job, something didn’t feel right. One particular day stands out. I was on the early train to London when the news broke that 27 people had drowned attempting to cross the English Channel — a tragedy quickly dubbed "the deadliest day of the migrant crisis." I supported the Red Cross media team as they crafted statements, briefed the CEO and organised interviews to leverage a rare moment of empathy to advocate for a more humane asylum policy.

By lunchtime, our talented and dedicated team had got our CEO onto the rolling news channels. By evening, we were being praised for a job well done. But something big changed for me that day. After decades focussing on the stories of people in crisis, I realised I was struggling. That night, I hid tears behind my Covid mask on the train back to Bristol. It may sound strange, but I actually drew that journey in my sketchbook.

You see, drawing had always been my outlet throughout childhood and adolescence and I’d returned to it during the pandemic, almost instinctively. Half an hour of drawing each evening became my way of processing the relentless news cycle and intense demands of my role at the Red Cross. As a journalist and communications professional, I’d always used words, photographs or video to tell stories — now I was using my drawings.

I ended up with a book...

Drawing life - One Day At A Time

“Half an hour of drawing each evening became my way of processing the relentless news cycle and intense demands of my role at the Red Cross. As a journalist and communications professional, I’d always used words, photographs or video to tell stories — now I was using my drawings.”

That was the start of a transition that’s taken four years - a rickety, exciting and, at times, slightly nauseating rollercoaster ride taking me from the Red Cross to roles at other charities to life as a freelancer, giving me time for studies that would gradually get me closer to my childhood dream of becoming an illustrator. Today, at the ripe old age of 49, my business card and website say ''illustrator'' and, at last, it's what I proudly and confidently say when people ask me the ''what do you do?'' question at parties.

I love seeing the smile on people’s faces when I hand out my business card. It’s so different from the corporate cards I used to hand out in the past. I love being my own boss and shaping my own professional identity.

My work now falls into three strands:

• Graphic recording – capturing live events and conversations in real time, with words and pictures. I like being there in person, using big sheets of paper and big (refillable) pens to sketch as people watch but I can also provide this remotely, online.

• Illustration – including infographics, graphic novels and comic strips - bringing ideas, people and messages to life visually.

• Workshops – creating safe, joyful spaces for others to rediscover drawing and use it to collaborate and develop ideas together.

Of these, graphic recording is the one I’m especially excited to offer to charities, social enterprises, and other good causes.

Bex with her live graphic recording of a panel discussion at the Frome International Climate Film Festival in May, 2025.

Bex holding her live illustration of Pete Rolliston’s introductory speech at TPS Business Coaching’s 90-day planning workshop in summer, 2025.

Graphic recording is a powerful and inclusive tool for engagement. Whether I’m live-scribing a strategy workshop, panel event, away day or discussion space, my role is to translate complex ideas and conversations into a visual summary that resonates long after the event is over. It’s not just note-taking — it’s storytelling. It helps participants feel seen and heard, and creates shareable visual content that can build understanding and support. I see huge value in it in the context of documenting and helping facilitate the different stages of co-produced projects, something I'm also extremely passionate about.

You can see examples of my work — from capturing a climate film festival panel discussion to an all-day business planning event to visualising public speaking showcases — on my website: www.bexgilbert.com/graphic-recording

Live graphic recording/live illustration of panel discussion on the concept of Thrutopia, at the Frome International Climate Film Festival in May, 2025.

Here's what my recent client Jo, from TPS Business Coaching, said about me after I live illustrated her one-day workshop earlier this month:

"Bex's artwork quickly became the focal point during breaks, sparking conversations and admiration from attendees. She managed to distill the energy, insights, and key moments of the day into a series of unique and engaging visuals. I would highly recommend Bex. Her presence is calm, her process seamless, and her final work truly memorable.”

What I’ve learned is this: my values haven’t changed. I still care deeply about people, purpose, personality and social justice. But it's time for me to try a different way of expressing those things — a new vehicle. As Ralph Ammer puts it in his TED talk, “drawing is bigger than art!” For me, it’s been healing, empowering, and clarifying. And now, I want to use that to help others.

So, to all my business and third sector friends and former colleagues, if you're planning an event and want to make it more engaging, inclusive and memorable, or anything else here sparks ideas for collaboration — let’s talk.

#graphicrecording #visualthinking #illustration #charitysector #nonprofits #goodcauses #drawingchange #liveillustration #eventillustrator

Blog first published on Linked In in June, 2025.