Tom Draws Buildings is an online artwork print shop, specialising in minimal illustrations of your favourite local venues and landmarks across the globe. The illustrations are printed on high-quality museum-grade paperstock, and orders can be received and shipped anywhere in the world. Have a building you’d like illustrated? I’m available for custom projects and commissions.

How it started

It all kicked off in 2020 as a not-for-profit global illustration project, established to help struggling local businesses during the darkest moments of the pandemic. Living in New York at the time and stuck inside due to lockdowns, I wanted to somehow give back to the neighbourhood businesses I missed, using the skills I have as a designer and illustrator.

The concept was simple: if you supported your local business (through donations, ordering takeout, buying gift vouchers, etc.), I’d draw it for you. The illustrations were posted on Instagram, along with the answer to a simple question: “What do you miss the most about your favourite spot?”

The project was a huge hit. Submissions came from cities across the globe, including Sydney, Melbourne, London, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, and more. Business owners were thrilled with the illustrations and support - some even used the artwork to create t-shirts and tote bags. Over the course of the year, I drew 70 local businesses, totalling $6,500 worth of donations.

What started as a not-for-profit has continued to develop into a love affair of buildings, illustration, and local businesses. And after much demand, prints from the series are now available for purchase. Stay in touch with the latest on Instagram.

Available for hire

Want an illustration of your favourite neighbourhood restaurant, bar, cafe or shop? Have a special project in mind for a special person? Want a drawing of your childhood home? Contact me for all commissions and enquiries.

Thank you

This project would never have come into existence if it wasn’t for the support and encouragement of my friends, family and Instagram followers. Drawing buildings started as a way for me to kill time during lockdown, but thanks to the support I received, it transformed into a project that has given people so much joy over the years - from business owners to locals and of course, myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

—Tom