Leeds locals invited to be part of 400-Portrait celebration

To mark 400 years since Leeds received its Royal Charter, award-winning creative studio Buttercrumble is embarking on an ambitious creative challenge: to illustrate 400 portraits of the people who make Leeds, Leeds.

During March, Buttercrumble’s twin-founders, Chloe and Abigail Baldwin, will capture residents’ faces in a celebratory drawathon designed to reflect the city’s diversity, warmth and creativity.

The activity is led by Leeds400, the year-long celebration that brings together individuals, organisations and communities to honour Leeds’ rich history while looking boldly to the future. The programme will spotlight everything that makes Leeds a fantastic city.

Buttercrumble’s 400 Portraits project forms part of this wider celebration, placing people firmly at the centre of the story.

Buttercrumble’s co-founders, Chloe and Abigail, both studied at the University of Leeds, where they were awarded an enterprise scholarship that helped them start up. Shortly after graduating, they were invited by Fred Aldous to illustrate live portraits in their Leeds store — a moment that helped shape Buttercrumble’s future.

Since then, the studio has illustrated thousands of portraits for brands including John Lewis & Partners and Seasalt Cornwall. Now, Buttercrumble is returning to its roots, extending the invitation to the people of Leeds themselves.

They are now inviting Leeds residents of all ages and backgrounds to take part and be illustrated as part of the project. The drawathon will take place across multiple locations in Leeds in March, including John Lewis, Leeds, on 14 March from 1pm.

Accessibility is central to the project. Leeds residents will also be able to submit their portraits digitally via Buttercrumble’s website. Submitted images will be illustrated live on Monday, 9 March 2026, with the drawing process streamed online so audiences can watch the artwork come to life in real time.