Abstract

The author produced court illustrations during the trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who were accused of cutting down the 'Sycamore Gap Tree'. The illustrations were shown on local and national news (TV and websites). The tree next to Hadrian's Wall was arguably an icon of the north east of England and featured in films including 'Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves', and it's illegal felling caused outrage and made news headlines across the world. Court Illustration was chosen as a research area due to the restrictions on photography during trials in the UK, which mean the appearance and actions of the accused must be interpreted by reporters or court artists. This makes courtrooms one of the few places out of reach of digital media, with the events taking place within them being made known to the public solely through drawn/painted images and text. The method of using an iPad and pencil sketches is a new approach to court sketching not seen in the UK before.