Boy who doodles to host first solo art exhibition

A teenager who went viral after being commissioned to doodle on the wall of a restaurant is preparing to open his first solo exhibition.

Joe Whale, also known as the Doodle Boy, gained international attention at the age of nine, when his artwork appeared on the walls of Shrewsbury restaurant, Number Four.

Now 16, he has just returned to the UK from Australia for his Ambassadors of Feeling exhibition, which is due to open at London's Truman Brewery on Friday.

"What it's about is 10 key characters which each represent a key emotion in the human experience," Whale said. "Especially for me as I navigate my youth."

"Obviously my 13-year-old self, my nine-year-old self, all plays a part in that," he explained.

The exhibition, which is open until 25 October, will feature original paintings, sculptures and hand-painted jackets created in collaboration with fashion brand, Parajumpers.

Whale, who previously signed a deal with Nike, was once watched by England footballers when he created a mural in their honour, and has also produced artwork celebrating Charles Darwin.

The former pupil at St George's Junior School, who was once encouraged to stop doodling in class, has since collaborated with brands including Disney and M&S.

Whale, who moved to Adelaide in Australia with his family two years ago, described going overseas as the "biggest change" as "everything was new".

"My environment was new. I kind of took that change and transferred it to my artwork," he explained.

"I started using more colour, more character based stuff with more of an abstract theme. I started thinking more intentionally about the messaging and the meaning that I want to convey."

The illustrator, who said he had now left school to focus on his art, said it got to a point where he had to choose between the two.

"In Australia, how it works is year 12 is part of the high school because they start a year after," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I've been in a wrestling match with my parents... they've let me come out of school and focus on my art."

The 16-year-old said he was also interested in fashion in the future, having recently attended Milan Fashion Week.

"It was a really good experience for me to be able to go into that environment", he said.

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