Henley street artist who's using his talent to help the people of Ukraine

Published: 11:26, 02 May 2022

| Updated: 11:30, 02 May 2022

A TEENAGER from Henley has been using his artistic talents to help raise money for Ukraine – and help the country celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

The 14-year-old, who has autism and goes by the name Jiggles, has already attracted critical acclaim and helped raise £2,400 at a charity event.

The graffiti artist, Jiggles (facial covering) is pictured with June McNicholas, wife of the Lord Mayor Coventry, Cllr John McNicholas, holding artwork of her and her husband that Jiggles drew specially for them as a gift and presented to them at the Ukraine fundraising auction in Coventry. Two other guests are pictured with one holding a peace dove picture drawn by Jiggles which was raffled to raise money. Photo: Christopher Stevens. (56159628)

A graffiti and scribble artist, Jiggles had two pieces of his work, which both featured the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag, available as prizes at the fundraiser in Coventry.

The pictures include a soldier taking aim at yellow and blue hearts, and a dove drawn in blue with the word peace written in yellow underneath.

Raising money for Ukraine relief was part of an event recently hosted at The Albany Theatre in Coventry and attended by the city’s Lord Mayor, John McNicholas and other invited guests.

A close family friend of Jiggles, whose son also knows the artist very well as they are school mates, is Christopher Stevens. He attended the Coventry fundraiser.

This jubilee picture of Her Majesty the Queen is a hand drawing by Jiggles using an iPad. He painted both images of the Queen onto the official flag being used as a promotion for the jubilee. The central jubilee badge is taken from the official jubilee link for people and schools to download and use in their artworks and promotions of various jubilee events across the UK. (56163837)

“The event went incredibly well and the paintings made £2,400,” he told the Herald. “This was made up of people buying tickets for the artwork with the Lord Mayor picking the winners from a tumbler.

“The Lord Mayor and his wife were presented with a picture themselves, drawn by Jiggles.

“It was a great night and quite emotional at times and it was an honour to be a part of it.”

He added: “I am helping Jiggles and have already secured a gallery contract and some great collaborations to show his work.

“Jiggles is a young lad with Autism/ASD and although he finds it tough to communicate socially, his artwork is full of expression, emotion and detail that is gaining recognition.

“A leading Midlands gallery is looking to build his global exposure and some of his work has been bought by a couple of Premier League footballers.”

The image of the Queen shown on this page was hand drawn by Jiggles using an iPad. He painted both images of the Queen onto the official flag being used as a promotion for the jubilee.

All Warwickshire News Stratford-upon-Avon Simon Woodings