Drawing Connections: The Human Touch in Art, Education, and Healing
By Dr Jake Abrams, Associate Professor, Kingston School of Art, London

As both an educator and a practising illustrator, I have spent my career at the intersection of making and teaching. Whether I’m guiding students through the award-winning BA Illustration Animation course at Kingston University, collaborating with colleagues across the globe, or crafting illustrations for publications and campaigns, I am continually reminded of the profound significance of the human touch in art.

The Quiet Power of the Handmade
In an age increasingly dominated by digital technology, there’s something quietly subversive about the mark of the hand. Every line, every brushstroke, every collage bears the evidence of its maker—a tremor, a hesitation, a moment of exuberance. These are not flaws to be erased, but rather the very hallmarks of authenticity. When we draw, paint, animate or construct, we do far more than create an image—we forge connections: with ourselves, with our audience, and with the wider world.

Education as a Shared Endeavour
Teaching, to my mind, is not about dispensing a fixed set of skills, but about co-creating a space where curiosity and experimentation are not only permitted, but encouraged. At Kingston, my colleagues and I urge students to take risks, to embrace failure as part of the process, and to discover their own unique voices. The most meaningful learning occurs not in the relentless pursuit of perfection, but in the willingness to be vulnerable and to embrace uncertainty.

Illustration as a Bridge of Empathy
My work as an illustrator has taken me from the pages of The Times and Penguin Books to the walls of the Southbank Centre. Yet perhaps my most rewarding venture has been co-founding Get Better Books—a publishing company dedicated to assisting young patients in understanding complex medical journeys. Here, illustration becomes a bridge: a means to demystify, to comfort, and to empower. At its best, art is an act of empathy.

A Note to Emerging Creatives
To those embarking on their creative journey: cherish the marks your hands make. Allow your work to reflect your curiosity, your courage, and your compassion. The world is not in need of more flawless images—it longs for honest ones. Your art holds the potential to heal, to connect, and to inspire.

Let us continue to draw, to teach, and to care—with our heads, our hearts, and our hands.

Dr Jake Abrams
Associate Professor, Kingston School of Art, London
Illustrator, Educator, Co-founder of Get Better Books