REVIEW: [ELCAF] East London Comic & Arts Festival @ Round Chapel, London

5th East London Comics & Arts Festival
10 - 12 June 2016
Round Chapel, London

Last weekend I went to an illustration and comics led arts festival. This event was set in Hackney, East London where a selection of independent designers and artists would be selling and promoting their work.

Unlike some of the other illustration fairs I've seen over the last year, this festival had a very intimate and low key feeling about it which I loved. It felt very easy to approach the people who had made the work and there was a real sense of community at the venue. Even though this festival was on a much smaller scale than others I've seen, it felt just as varied and popular.

One of my favourite parts of this fair was seeing the artists drawing on site. Some of them were there to sign their comic books with personalised illustrations, others were creating bespoke drawings for sale which was lovely to see.

I saw such a huge range of styles and merchandise on sale, it was difficult to choose what to come home with. Books, zines, prints, drawings, comics, cards, postcards, badges, ceramics - you name it, it was there! Armed with the long list of exhibitors, I will no doubt be trawling through them and checking out their work online for further purchases. I came home with two wonderful prints and a small drawing which was made at the fair, and the prices were super reasonable. Festivals and fairs like this are fantastic options if you're looking for amazing artwork and prints on a budget. And plus you feel good too in supporting all the emerging talent with their wonderful creations.

Isabel Greenberg (above) was very popular with visitors at the fair, signing her book 'The Encyclopedia of Early Earth' with charming personalised illustrations. Ben Newman (below) was also present, signing his children's book 'Professor Astro Cat's Atomic Adventure' which features some very colourful space-cats.

Adam Cadwell (below) was one of my favourite comic artists at the fair. He has a very bold, traditional comic book style of drawing and I will no doubt be commissioning him for a drawing or two in the future.

It was a fantastic day out. Check out all these wonderful artists on their websites and the ELCAF website if you would like a masterlist of all those who were involved.