Learn the secrets of comic strip art at Apple's live Comic Art Series

To share and celebrate the universal tool for storytelling that is the comic book, Apple is hosting a series of live art events at its UK flagship store on Regent Street, London. Titled Comic Curation the series invites four leading illustrators – Sam Taylor, Dan Woodger, Stephen Collins and Rubyetc – to not only present their work but impart some of their knowledge to any attendees. From building a narrative to developing unique characters, at the end of the Comic Curation, participants will have created their own strip of comic book art. To book a space at one of the events, sign up here.

The series kicks off on 9 April with London-based illustrator, Sam Taylor, who will be focussing on storyboarding. Known for his visually bold, unbridled and explosive artworks, Sam’s imagery is often rooted in an overarching theme, expressed through several frames. For his workshop, he will provide the audience with a theme for their own comic and guide them through tips and trick to build a three-frame strip to effectively communicate this theme.

Tackling character design is Dan Woodger, whose colourful and cartoonish characters are bright-eyed and expressive, their emotions often dictated by the simplest of lines. Having grown up watching The Simpsons, his work features an undertone of sarcasm, conveyed through his round-faced individuals. Dan’s workshop, on 16 April, will provide insights on how he creates such engaging characters, focussing on the subtleties of expression and how the positioning of a single line can impact a mood.

Following on from this, Hertfordshire-based illustrator Stephen Collins will conduct the lesson on lettering on 23 April. Stephen will explore the techniques and disciplines of comic book illustration which have enabled him to craft a distinctive body of graphic novels. Demonstrating how he creates “writings with pictures”, he will take participants through the process of compiling a comic strip. Working from a prepared script, written by Stephen, they will have the chance to make creative choices regarding the portrayal of their narrative.

Closing the series on 30 April with a masterclass on scene composition is artist and illustrator Rubyetc. Best known for her deceptively simple drawings that convey sad topics through hilarity and vice verse, Rubyetc has a passion for taking silliness very seriously. In her workshop, she will be sharing some of the ways she composes her scenes, teaching participants to quickly communicate a narrative using only a few simple elements.

To find out more about Comic Curation and how you can get involved, visit Apple’s website.