How Much Does a Live Illustrator Cost for a Brand Activation or Corporate Event?
It's one of the first questions event and marketing managers ask ... and honestly, it's a great one to ask early.
Budget planning matters, and I'd rather give you a clear picture upfront than have you go back and forth trying to figure out what you're working with.
So here's an honest breakdown.
---
My live illustration packages start from AUD $1,260 + GST
That's the starting point for one illustrator... just me, at your event, creating live illustrations for your guests.
But the actual quote I put together for each client looks different, because no two events are the same. I will need the event duration (multiple days? number of hours?), estimated number of guests, venue, event brief to be able to provide an accurate quotation and here is why.
---
What affects the price?
A few key things go into every custom quote:
How long is the event?
Is it a multiple days event? Three, four, five, six hours or more are quoted accordingly. The longer the event, the more guests I can reach ... and the more value the experience delivers overall.
How many guests are you expecting?
For intimate VIP events with 30–50 guests, one artist is usually enough to give everyone a personalised experience. For larger activations — think 150+ guests, high foot traffic, year end celebration, retail pop-ups — the pacing looks very different. I work with a carefully selected team of illustrators, engravers and calligraphers, so we can scale up and run multiple stations at once without losing quality or consistency.
Where is the event?
I'm based in Melbourne and work across Australia and internationally. Travel, accommodation and logistics for interstate or overseas bookings are factored into the quote.
What are you personalising?
Live illustration is the most common starting point....guests receive a sketch created just for them at the event. But many brands want to add a layer: calligraphy on a gift box, engraving on a fragrance bottle, bottle painting, a name written in Chinese calligraphy for a Lunar New Year activation. Each combination is a little different, and the quote reflects that.
---
Why there's no single flat rate
I know it would be easier if there were a simple price list. But live event art isn't a one-size-fits-all service and I think clients deserve a quote that's actually built around their event, not a generic number that might be too high or too low for what they actually need.
What I can tell you is that the brands I work with — Dior, Montblanc, Prada, Chaumet, YSL, Balenciaga and others — are investing in an experience that their guests genuinely remember. The artwork guests leave with isn't just a nice touch. It becomes the thing they keep, photograph, and talk about for years.
That kind of guest experience has real value, and the pricing reflects that.
---
What about private events such as weddings?
Wedding bookings work a little differently and the pricing structure different from corporate and brand activation events. If you're planning a wedding and want to explore live illustration, engraving or calligraphy as part of your day, feel free to reach out and I'll put together something specific for you.
---
Ready to get a quote?
If you're in the early stages of planning and just want a rough idea of
what your event might look like, I'm happy to chat through it. You don't
need to have everything figured out ... sometimes the best activations start
with a simple question.
---
A little about me
I'm Candy Ng - a Melbourne-based live event artist, fine art painter, and
the person behind all of these experiences.
I came from banking. Yes, really. And now I spend my days drawing people at
some of the most beautiful events in Australia (and occasionally, the world).
I've worked with over 30 luxury and international brands — among them Dior,
Montblanc, Prada, Chaumet, YSL, Balenciaga, Jo Malone London and Guerlain.
I've been featured in The CEO Magazine, and I've had the privilege of
bringing live art to events across Australia and internationally.
Honestly? I still get a little buzz every single time a guest sees their
sketch for the first time. That never gets old.
If you're planning an event in Melbourne, or anywhere across Australia and
New Zealand, and you want to add something genuinely unforgettable — I'd
love to hear from you.
✉ hello@candyngart.com
📞 +61 481 783 811
🌐 candyngart.com
📷 @candyngart
Fine Artist | Live Event Illustrator, Engraver & Calligrapher
Melbourne, Australia — Available internationally