Caricature Artist Rakesh

Rakesh is a very experienced caricaturist, who lives and works from Hornsby, Sydney. He draws at corporate entertainment as well as private events. And he does not utilise any other artist as he considers the personal touch important to every event.

Rakesh is the recipient of the prestigious INLAKS Foundation Award and the British Chevening Scholarship in cartooning and caricature. He trained at The Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London.

Rakesh began his career as a building architect but soon shifted to cartooning and caricature. He started drawing a pocket cartoon, which appeared daily on the front page of The Indian Express, the largest circulated English newspaper in India. He left the Express after two years when he was awarded the Inlaks Foundation Scholarship to work with various caricaturists in USA.

In 1989, Rakesh undertook a tour of Europe where he produced a number of travel sketches depicting life in various cities. In 1990, he had the privilege of holding a one-man show at Scribes, London. In 1995, Rakesh's collection of travel sketches on Singapore was published in a book called Rakesh Sahgal's Singapore. In 1998, Rakesh was invited as a state guest by the South Korea government. His Korean travel sketchbook was exhibited in all the major cities in India.

He admits that during his struggling days as a freelance cartoonist in London he could have papered his walls with the rejection slips he received. The big break came in 1990 when he made it with Punch magazine. His cartoons appeared regularly in Punch till its unfortunate closure in 1992. Subsequently, he moved to Sydney, Australia.

Rakesh's work has been published in over 35 other international publications, including The Spectator, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Doctor, Reader's Digest, The Hindustan Times, The Economic Times and The Hindu. In 1992, he had an opportunity to draw hundreds of caricatures while sitting at the Piccadilly Circus, London.

Rakesh is a professional member of the National Caricaturist Network (US) and specialises in on-the-spot caricatures.

Since 1992, Rakesh has drawn thousands of delighted subjects at parties, trade shows, fairs and corporate events. Some of his major clients include The Cartoon Network Channel, American Express, Telstra, Pfizer, Dulux Australia and FitnessFirst. Many of his clients request his services to draw at their events year after year.

Please drop Rakesh an email and he will be more than happy to discuss your plans and how you can best use his caricature services!

Email:rakeshtoon@gmail.com