Kev F Sutherland has written and drawn for Beano, Doctor Who and Marvel comics, and now makes graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare. Now he'll teach you how easy it is. Whatever stories you want to tell, Kev can teach you how.

After the end of a Comic Art Masterclass, we all take away a comic containing a strip by everyone in the class plus an individual caricature by Kev F.

Learn everything he knows, so you could leave school and steal his job!

This is a free event. Please reserve a ticket for each child attending.

Suitable for ages 7+

Join artist Jenny Robins for a drop-in collage comic extravaganza. With scissors and glue, anything can be a sticker, anything can be a comic.

There are a limited number of places which will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All workshops are free, but we would appreciate a donation of £5+ per child.

Two LICAF stalwarts tell us what they’ve been up to since 2025 and what is on the cards for 2026 and beyond. Hosted by Keli Lark.

ILYA (pen name of Ed Hillyer) is an experienced comic strip writer, artist and editor with 100s of comics and more than 30 book titles to his name. His latest is ROMO the WolfBoy, an all ages character-based series released to great acclaim as a handsome hardback and now also newly available in paperback. Indulge yourself in ROMO’s world courtesy of a 45 minute presentation by Ilya himself.

Draw characters from your imagination guided by two Phoenix Comic superstars, James Turner and Robert Deas. Take part in our first ever giant Phoenix Comic Club, enjoy free comics and find out more about one of the UK’s favourite weekly comics.

Workshop sessions start at 10.30 AM and 11.30 AM but please arrive at least 10 minutes before the starting time. There are a limited number of places which will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All workshops are free, but we would appreciate a donation of £5+ per child.

Learn from professional Manga artist Sonia Leong as she teaches you how to create characters with a stylish Manga/Anime aesthetic! Understand how to build up faces from easy shapes and ratios, design sparkly eyes and spiky hair, try different angles and poses and get body proportions mapped out correctly. This workshop will help you get up to speed on all the basics and more.

Recommended for 9-12 year olds

What to say about Bill? He’s celebrated the world over and is a mutli-Eisner award-winning and Emmy award-nominated artist known for bringing a new and distinctive style to comic and graphic novel illustration. We’re excited and honoured to welcome him to LICAF. In this special session Bill will draw live whilst fielding questions from the audience, incorporating some of these exchanges into an original piece. Introduced by film-maker Dylan Southern.

Chrissy is an award-winning comic book writer, poet, and editor based in the UK, whose writing has been featured on BBC radio and television. She co-edited Over the Line: An Introduction to Poetry Comics (Sidekick Books) with Tom Humberstone, about which Alan Moore said ‘I really can’t recommend this venture highly enough’. Come and find out why with Lucy Sullivan.

Marc Makes Comics returns to LICAF to lead a giant live draw session in which a roll-call of our fantastic international guests will draw their own well-known characters with you in an inspiring and energetic drawing jamboree.

Workshop sessions start at 1.30 PM and 2.30 PM but please arrive at least 10 minutes before the starting time. There are a limited number of places which will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. All workshops are free, but we would appreciate a donation of £5+ per child.

Meet one of the most celebrated young artists from Gaza, Khaled Jarada, and experience a guided tour of his exhibition of fine art and comics work led by one of Palestine’s cultural experts George Al Ama who will be joining LICAF from Bethlehem.

Emad is a Jordanian cartoonist, well-known as Abu Mahjoob, and is one of the most famous cartoonists in the Arab world. Emad has documented the trials and tribulations of life in the Arab world for many years. In 2020 he was briefly imprisoned for upsetting certain Arab leaders. He has many tales to tell in what promises to be an exhilarating event hosted by Terry Anderson of Cartoonists Rights.

David Leach’s career as a cartoonist, writer and editor celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. It started on January 2nd 1986, when at the age of 23 he started working as British animator, Bob Godfrey's 'ghost artist' drawing Henry's Cat comic strips. He created his most popular character, Psycho Gran in 1987 for the much-loved kids comic, Oink. He's also worked for Whizzer & Chips, Gas, Brain Damage, UT, Casper, Action Man, and LEGO Adventures. And there’s much more……come and find out more guided by your host John McShane.

What happens when you mix poetry with comics? Find out in this exciting 90 minute workshop! You will see some fun examples and start making your own poetry comics, with poet and comic book writer Chrissy Williams. All materials provided.

Ideal for all ages from 7+

Internationally-acclaimed film-maker and lifelong comics fan Dylan Southern reveals his favourite comics and reflects on how this art form has influenced his work with recent collaborator and comic artist Lucy Sullivan.

Followed by a special screening of his film ‘The Thing with Feathers’ (running time 98mins) based on Max Porter’s bestselling book. Dylan worked closely with comics creator Lucy Sullivan on this project.

A special screening of his film ‘The Thing with Feathers’ (running time 98 minutes) based on Max Porter’s bestselling book. Director Dylan Southern worked closely with comics creator Lucy Sullivan on this project.

"Black Peider is a one man show with no boundaries & limits. This nordic luchador run out of comic pages gives usually remarkable musical treats with guitar and his unique voice but not always. You never know where the wind blows. Faulty hero to rule 'em all!!!" in his own words.

Los Angeles-based indie electronic duo fronted by cartoonist Luke McGarry and twin brother Joe McGarry. Having headlined venues in Manchester, London, Paris and China, and shared the stage with the likes of The Wombats, Doves, Robyn and Franz Ferdinand, they’re bringing their high-energy live show back to Ruskin’s for a night of pulsing rhythms and soaring guitars. Get in early, as you won’t want to miss this special LICAF set!

We're taking you to the DISCO with a mix of funk and soul from the golden age of club music, so please don't forget to bring your dancing shoes.