Our Story
Visual Arts for Storytelling
Storyline Arts was founded in Sheffield in 2026 by Ed Swales and Becky Warburton, with a simple aim… to make high-quality visual arts education accessible to more people. At the heart of Storyline Arts is a belief that drawing is a skill that can be learned. You don’t need to have been drawing since childhood. You don’t need an art degree. And you certainly don’t need to arrive already knowing what you’re doing. You just need somewhere to start.
From the Film & TV Industry to the Drawing Table
Storyline Arts grew out of Ed’s experience as a professional Storyboard Artist. For years, Ed has worked in Film and TV, using drawing as a practical storytelling tool to help turn scripts and ideas into images before they reach the screen. His credits include Casualty (BBC) and the Oscar-shortlisted The One Note Man (Disney+).
Alongside his professional practice, Ed has taught visual storytelling and filmmaking in higher education, including as a Senior Lecturer at MetFilm School and visiting lecturer at Leeds Arts University.
That combination of professional practice and education became the foundation for Storyline Arts. We wanted to take the skills used every day by artists working in film, television, illustration and other creative industries and make them available in a friendly, affordable and supportive setting.
(Pictured below) Ed’s Storyboard Panels - Casualty (BBC)
