On Friday 18 March, a determined gang of huggers armed with ‘free hugs’ signs and smiles arrived on Carnaby Street.

Their mission: to give out as many free hugs as possible to passers by. Many people were cynical at first, wondering what the catch was, but those who went for a hug all left smiling. Given all the disasters, wars, and cuts going on at the moment, it was great to be involved in a small event designed simply to cheer people up. And even though I was supposed to be on photography duty, I was even ambush-hugged by a passer-by!

Check out more photos here: www.sharpsharp.co.uk/photography/album/72157626296497538/geurrilla-hugs-on-carnaby-street.html

Find out more about Geurrilla Hugs here: www.guerrillahugs.com

The designs for this year’s Christmas cards in aid of Ganet’s Adventure School, Malawi are inspired by the hand painted signs and advertising which can be found across Malawi and much of Africa. I worked with two Malawian sign painters and artists, Peter Madede and ‘George’ Weya to create them during a recent trip to the school in Malawi. The quotes are sourced from the much-loved Christmas Carol ‘We Three Kings’ by Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr. and the well-known Christmas poem ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’  by Clement Clark Moore.

The cards are available to purchase online now, £4 from each pack goes direct to the school, in Malawi: www.ganetsadventureschool.org/?p=408

Here are some of the signs which inspired the designs: www.flickr.com/photos/sharp-sharp/sets/72157625429958250/

Christmas card printing and finishing donated by Preview

Paper donated by Mason’s Paper

I created these designs for promoter Tim Merricks, who is organising this gig in aid of Ganet’s Adventure School, Malawi. The lo-fi blues and surf sounds of the bands fit the handpainted style, which was also inspired by the signs and adverts found painted on walls everywhere you go in Malawi. Both backgrounds are composite images made from my own photography of Malawi; I also created the handpainted lettering myself (zero budgets force you to be resourceful!)

More about the gig can be found here.

This is a self-initiated project to raise funds for Ganet’s Adventures School, a rural primary school in Malawi. While in Malawi in October 2009, I organised an art activity for the students, and photographed the origami stars which they created. These photos were then used as Christmas card designs, printing was generously donated by Preview Design. Over 2,500 cards were sold, raising over £1,100 for the school.