Young Cartoonist-in-Residence
Since 2023, we have been running an award-winning programme of Young Cartoonist residencies, aimed at young autistic artists. Our team have worked with them to develop their artistic skills and build their confidence, and develop their understanding of artistic careers including developing and selling their own products alongside producing and publishing their own work for display in the museum. The museum then collects the produced works by purchasing them off the residents, as well as paying them a participation fee for their work. On this page you can find out more about each of our residents and their work.
We are thankful to The John Lyon’s Charity for funding this work since 2024.
Aoki Leigh Saddler
My name is Aoki Leigh Saddler, and I like to draw cartoons in an anime style. I started drawing when I was four years old, and when I was seven I began drawing in my art class with my teacher. I have been practicing drawing characters in high school, and I won an art competition. I will continue to draw characters until I am fully grown because I was always good.
About 'Anastasia' the manga:
Anastasia is from Canada. Her cat is Mr Tibbles and she has to take him to the vet with her family. Mr Tibbles is based on my own cat, Morgan.
Aoki is our third resident, currently working with the museum. For her residency, Aoki is creating a new manga comic called ‘Anastasia’. A page from ‘Anastasia’ was displayed as part of our major 2025 exhibition Cats in Cartoons.
Alice Thompson
My name is Alice Thompson and I am a very imaginative, creative and autistic person who loves to write a draw made-up stories. I really like plants as well as animals and I love being in nature. I am studying horticulture at college and wanted to bring some nature into my comic, which inspired my idea for Dr Octopussy and Evil Iguana to land in a tree.
Spending time at The Cartoon Museum has really helped to develop my skills and understanding of how to both draw and use a computer to create a comic. I have also been learning about how to make and sell merchandise from my work. In the future it is my dream to become a cartoonist.
Most of my stories come from my imagination but I also get my artistic inspiration from other people by reading comic books, watching cartoons, and playing computer games. What mostly inspired me to write this comic was my very own Super Dog, Ruffy.
Alice, aged 17, was our second resident, working with the museum from September 2024 - February 2025. Alice created a new comic called ‘Super Dogs’, along with a line of worksheets and merchandise. She launched the project at an event at the museum in February 2025, with the story brought to life by a storyteller.
Jadore Nicholas AKA Jadorekid
I started my residency by customising The Cartoon Museum’s windows with ‘The Jadoodles’. I spent my time at The Cartoon Museum exploring the galleries to get inspired by the many old cartoons in the collection. I have also been leading workshops at ‘Relaxed Monday’ events.
The Relaxed Monday workshops have grown my confidence from strength to strength, as well as developing the workshops I offer. Starting with my own JKCS colouring sheet sessions, I now lead workshops where I tutor participants on how to draw Jadoodles. One special moment for me was when I assisted a person in a wheelchair with special needs to a 1-to-1 session on the board.
To celebrate my residency at The Cartoon Museum, I hosted a takeover of the museum for a special event showcasing my responses to the collection at the museum – as well as a few other surprises!
Jadore, aged 17, was our first resident, working with the museum from February - November 2023. Jadore responded to works from the museum’ collection, reinterpreting them with his own colourful characters the ‘Jadoodles’. The works were displayed alongside the originals, and Jadore also developed worksheets and merchandise, and led drawing workshops.
Read more about his experience on our blog.
Jadore’s residency was sponsored by The Foyle Foundation, and we thank them for their support.