Mandy Johnson has a National Diploma in Art and Design from Manchester Metropolitan University. Upon completion of her Diploma she declared art “too difficult” and went on to complete a degree in Law from a red brick university.

Johnson started her career at Deloitte, where she obtained further professional qualifications before deciding her skills would be better invested in the not-for-profit sector. Through a series of high-profile achievements, awards, and with an MSc in Charity Management under her belt, Johnson moved up the career ladder quickly; achieving her first CEO position aged just 32.

In 2017, Johnson’s life was put at risk by debilitating clinical depression. With the help of an NHS therapist, Johnson reconnected with her artistic background. She later described her journey as “drawing myself back to life”.

Johnson went on to found Sketchnotes UK - an organisation that combines simple words with colourful illustrations to make complex information more engaging and accessible. Sketchnotes UK now has an impressive, international client list that includes the likes of Facebook, Nationwide and the Scottish Government. Johnson is currently the “Chief Doodler” at Sketchnotes UK where she specialises in working with organisations that are focused on social change. Johnson stated, “I want my work to raise the voices of those who are too often unheard by people with power”.

Johnson continues to paint and draw for herself daily. She describes this as part of the “medication” that keeps her alive. Her work is always colourful and positive - often inspired by children’s toys, nature, animals and the colours that brighten up our world.

Johnson works in a variety of mediums. Previous exhibitions have seen her work with collage, alcohol ink, resin and much more. Her go-to paint is acrylic but ever the unconventional, she doesn’t restrict herself to just using a paint brush and often applies paint with spray cans, markers, spoons, spatulas, ink stamps as well as using her fingers.

Johnson has shown her work in exhibitions in London as well as more locally in galleries in Hitchin, Wheathampstead, Hatfield and St Albans.

She is a member of Herts Visual Arts, H’Arts in Mind and is currently one of seven Artists in Residence at the Collective Gallery in St Albans.