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How it Started

Gabriel “Gabi” Campanario is an illustrator and blogger, originally from Barcelona, now living and working in Seattle. He has a regular illustrated column in the Seattle Times.

Moving to Seattle, he began drawing every day to familiarise himself with the place. began posting his drawings on Flickr,. Within a year he had 300 followers. He then invited the sketchers who inspired him the most to showcase everyday life around the world at Urbansketchers.org.

“I try to draw things that are representative of life in Seattle from my own perspective,”

His interest was to develop a creative movement that aimed to tell everyday reality through drawing, celebrate a diversity of views and share them with others. This idea of Urban Sketching is based in and represents the value of community.

"Our drawings tell the story of our surroundings, the places we live"

Gabi Campanario

Gabi discussing the view over the Thames at (ironically) Gabriel's Wharf, London, during a London ten year anniversary sketch crawl.

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