When the London Marathon was cancelled in 2020, Niall Guite, artist and Special Olympics GB basketball gold medal winner and athlete leader, wanted to support Special Olympics GB through his love of football. He ended up drawing 100s of felt-tip illustrations, getting fan requests from around the world and now counts Grayson Perry as one of his fans! 

We were excited to catch up with him, and also hear some very exciting news to come later this year. 

Interview: Eleanor Pender in conversation with Niall Guite

Could you start by telling us a little bit about your work and your art?

My art has a very special goal. I draw aerial images of stadiums and sell prints of my drawing on my website. It is a social enterprise to raise funds for Special Olympics GB and awareness to help create more meaningful employment opportunities for others with an intellectual disabilities, like myself.

I do a lot of research and try to incorporate people’s requests to depict their personal experiences of sport and their love for the game, for instance a team’s strongest rival in the away stand or the clubs previous stadium as a memory, or even the seats that they sit in. My use of colour is often a playful element that brings humour to the piece, which only the supporter will understand.

_{Photo: Shelley Richmond Photography}

What sport do you compete in? And can you share your proudest sporting achievement?

I first competed in basketball, but take part in multiple sports such as football and cycling. My proudest sporting achievement is winning a gold medal in basketball while representing Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Summer games in 2015, held in Los Angeles.

Currently, I am involved in competitive cycling, which I am really enjoying. I am lucky to be supported by Special Olympics Great Britain and British Cycling, learning a lot and aiming to compete in cycling for the Special Olympics Summer World Games 2023 in Berlin.

Special Olympics GB helped you to create a social enterprise and have been amazing at supporting your work. How did this come about?

It all started with the 2.6 Challenge, which was a replacement of the London Marathon during the pandemic. In honour of the marathon, the challenge was to do any kind of activity relating to the numbers two and six. I love football and was really missing it when Special Olympics GB were asking people to think of ideas. I thought I could draw some of the stadiums I had visited and love. I started to draw 26 aerial drawings of football stadiums up and down the country. My goal was to raise £260 for Special Olympics GB and I ended up raising over £6000. It all escalated really from there as no sports were happening and I think people were really missing sport and seemed to connect with what I was doing.

Following this, a few people from Special Olympics GB suggested that the images were very saleable and that it might be something that they could get behind, a company called Childish Design offered to build me a website and after a lot of work the rest, as they say, is history.

You started to draw football stadiums in lockdown as a way to raise money for Special Olympics GB - and blasted through your target! Where did the idea to draw football stadiums come from?

I’ve always drawn since I was a child. I was given a gift one Christmas which was a book of aerial views of football stadiums which inspired me to start to draw in the first place. I was fascinated by the idea of the ‘view from above’ . It was an angle I had not seen before and was a very ‘new’ perspective at the time.

You’ve now drawn over 100 stadiums, from Athens to Arsenal. What was it like when requests started coming in from football fans around the world? 

It’s so exciting to be asked for a piece of my work. It makes me feel very honoured. It felt amazing to be sending my images all over the world and getting recognition from other artists too.

Art is clearly a big passion of yours. What do you hope to do or achieve with your drawings?

I would like to continue doing this as my full time job and demonstrate to others what people with learning disabilities can achieve, improving diversity, inspiring and encouraging others to have a go. We are capable of achieving more than people think.

It seems you love sport as much as you do art! What kind of a link do you see between the two?

The link for me is mainly about community because It brings people together in ways that not many things can and provides support. It makes us feel connected and part of a family. It also keeps the heart active and happy. Everyone can find a sport or piece of artwork that they love.

Can you tell our readers a little more about the Special Olympics GB?

Special Olympics is part of a global organisation that provides all year round sport and support to help improve the fitness of people with intellectual disabilities. Every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability. Their main message is understanding, acceptance and inclusion no matter your backgrounds. Get involved and join our community through their website.

It would be wonderful to hear about any future plans you might have for your artwork? Is there any exciting news you can share with us?

Where to begin! I’ve been lucky enough to be invited by Grayson Perry, to exhibit my work in the summer exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts which runs from the 21st June - 21st August, 2022. The theme is Climate and I have submitted two pieces that opens discussion around environmental choices and possibilities. I have also been selected as one of the Queen’s Baton Bearers for the Yorkshire and Humberside region for the Commonwealth Games at Birmingham 2022, which is happening this August as well.

That’s wonderful news! Congratulations! How does it feel to be selected for the Summer Exhibition? 

Really exciting, I was jumping up and down when Grayson Perry invited me to be a part of this year’s show. It’s such an exciting opportunity and I will never forget the day. Things seem to happen on Thursdays for me, I seem to have “surprise Thursdays”, I hope that doesn’t stop!

I have always loved Grayson Perry and I love his art club. He encourages people to just have a go at art and not be worried about what other people think too much.

How does it feel to be a role model to people with an intellectual disability that has your artwork feature in the Royal Academy? 

It’s such a privilege to have this opportunity, to represent the Intellectual Disability community at the World’s largest and oldest open art exhibition. What an amazing thing to happen.   

I feel very proud that I can show that there are possibilities and things can be exciting and positive if you work hard and put the effort in. I really want people to see my work and for them to do something that they love, and be excited by it. I want to continue raising the profile of people like myself and challenging ideas, promoting inclusivity and social change. 

Thank you, Niall!

If you were inspired by this interview with Niall, you can follow his journey on Instagram or head to his website here. 

Registrations are open for The Big Draw Festival 2022: Come Back to Colour! Find out more about the benefits of becoming an organiser here and other ways to support The Big Draw's mission here.