Friday Lates: DoodleLand

Born with an innate passion for doodling, Mr Doodle, also known as Sam Cox, has captivated viewers worldwide with his unique artistic vision. After studying Illustration at the University of the West of England, his prodigious talent, often labelled as ‘Obsessive Compulsive Doodling’, has propelled him to global fame.

To celebrate the release of his first colouring book ‘DoodleLand’, published by Bloomsbury, we’ve invited Mr Doodle to explore the National Gallery’s collection to discover a selection of paintings that resonate with his work. Joined in conversation by art historian and comedian Verity Babbs, he discusses his artistic influences before a live ‘draw along’, offering a unique glimpse into Mr Doodle’s extraordinary imagination. We recommend you bring a sketchbook and pen!

Mr Doodle began doodling the world when he was born in 1994. He started by covering his parents’ furniture with doodles and eventually his whole bedroom, until he realised his home wasn’t a big enough canvas. He then began doodling on the walls of local fast-food restaurants and schools. When Mr Doodle creates, he grabs a marker and lets his hand flow, producing clusters of happy characters and patterns that cover whichever surface he puts his pen to.

Mr Doodle began to gain recognition in the art world in 2015 and has since seen a meteoric rise in interest in his work. His doodles reach all corners of culture, from international museum and gallery shows to collaborations with household names such as Disney, Samsung, Fendi, and Kleenex, as well as enormous murals, street art projects, a huge following on social media and much more. His pen knows no bounds, and his ultimate goal is to doodle the world. While his work provokes discourse around what we consider fine art today, for Mr Doodle, he is simply happiest when he’s doodling.

Verity Babbs is an art historian, presenter, and comedian from the UK. She hosts live art-themed comedy nights 'Art Laughs' which perform regularly at London's National Gallery, and she has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and BBC News. She has written for several arts publications including the Guardian, RA Magazine, Hyperallergic, and Artnet News, and has worked as a presenter for Tate, London Art Fair, and Elizabeth Xi Bauer gallery. As a student, Verity took part in Articulation, the National Gallery’s public speaking initiative for young people, designed to promote the appreciation and discussion of visual culture.