Reportage illustrator and Overall Professional Winner at AOI World Illustration Awards 2015, Olivier Kugler, gave an insightful Artist talk on 13 October at the exhibition discussing his editorial process and the experience of working on his refugee project in the Middle East. He spoke on working with Doctors Without Borders, and revealing the real life Syrian refugee stories in Iraqi Kurdistan,

Using photography for reference Olivier illustrates the refugee stories by meeting and talking with the refugees, often with the help of one who can speak English. He told the crowd of several different encounters with those fleeing the violence and destruction of their country, most recently on the Greek island of Kos.

Those present had the opportunity to ask questions about his work, and how he feels about the reportage work. He has always been interested in graphic novels and structures his images in a way that creates a strong narrative.

The attendees were treated to seeing his line drawings spread out across one of the exhibition display cabinets, and Olivier used his laptop to show how he constructs his composite images from the drawings, colouring them in using Photoshop.