George Butler

Award Winning illustrator and reportage artist, TED Fellow, Co-founder, Action Syria.

[George Butler @george_butler]

The works are available on a first come, first served basis.

If one catches your eye, I’d love it to find a place on your wall.

https://t.co/XX4NZJiZo8

[George Butler @george_butler]

'm delighted to be speaking at @BurfordFest on 16 June, 7pm.

Drawing Behind the Lines explores the human stories behind conflicts through reportage drawing.

Hope to see you there.

🎟️ Tickets: https://t.co/6pZ6xXY6R1

[George Butler @george_butler]

Delighted to be speaking at this year’s Nevill Holt Festival - a brilliant programme of arts, music and ideas in a truly beautiful setting. Head to https://t.co/jzdL6rSGke for tickets.

[George Butler @george_butler]

NEW SUBSTACK ARTICLE: My TED Talk - “What stayed with me after stepping off stage…”

https://t.co/uAlzq6cVwX

[George Butler @george_butler]

Final film in 10 Portraits x 10 Stories series.

Mohamed, age 10, West Bank, 2016.

We thought this story might one day feel outdated.
Ten years later, it feels even more urgent. #Palestine #WestBank #Gaza

[George Butler @george_butler]

NEW SUBSTACK ARTICLE!
How I discovered reportage drawing in a plastic surgery operating theatre. It was life drawing in the extreme — and I was completely fascinated.

LINK: https://t.co/t6XjlYlLsK

[George Butler @george_butler]

Liza is a captain with Ukraine’s State Space Agency, tracking tank movements and radio activity through satellite imagery across eastern Ukraine.

Watch her story: https://t.co/LeR1RYcEai

[George Butler @george_butler]

NEW ARTICLE: Drawing in Ink on Location

If you're interested in observational drawing, visual storytelling, or creative work from challenging environments, I hope you'll find it useful.

https://t.co/nPWc5WUeg7

[George Butler @george_butler]

#TED2026 exceeded all expectations—grateful to have been part of such an inspiring event.

I’ll be sharing some reflections in the coming days, along with my full talk once it’s released. Stay tuned.

[George Butler @george_butler]

8/10 Ten Portraits x Ten Stories

A story from 2017: Abdullo, Tajikistan

Abdullo left Tajikistan for Moscow on a 4-day train journey to support his family.

“2300 Miles to Work” captures a reality that still exists today.

[George Butler @george_butler]

Today's the day! I am speaking at TED2026 Vancouver

[George Butler @george_butler]

Tomorrow: I take the stage at TED2026. Big moment.

I’ll post reflections, behind-the-scenes, and more on my Substack.

Subscribe to hear more: https://t.co/n7oZwd4np4

[George Butler @george_butler]

New post! https://t.co/Vbz0t6vXhl

[George Butler @george_butler]

ANNOUNCEMENT:
I've launched a Substack called BEHIND THE LINE.

Stories of hope from behind the headlines, told slowly, humanely, and with dignity. Subscribers can expect interviews, visual essays, and dispatches from the frontline.

Check it out!
https://t.co/n7oZwd4np4

[George Butler @george_butler]

Preparing for @TEDTalks TED2026: All of Us has been exciting but challenging.
The hardest part is choosing which stories to share. One I’ve chosen is Oleg, from Ukraine, who I drew in 2024.
This animation comes from that drawing. #TED2026 #AllOfUs #guineapig

[George Butler @george_butler]

5/10 Mustafa, IRAQ, 2017

A local artist in Hamam al Alil who secretly drew ISIS atrocities he witnessed.

Beaten for it. Told to stop. He didn’t.

Now his work is displayed as a reminder of what happened.

#MustafaAlTaee #Iraq #ArtAsResistance #HumanRights #NeverForget

[George Butler @george_butler]

4/10 — Ten Portraits x Ten Stories

I drew Tamara for Amnesty International in 2017 to shed light on the last place in the European continent that had the death penalty.

This is her story.

#AbolishTheDeathPenalty #HumanRights #TenPortraitsTenStories #ArtForImpact

[George Butler @george_butler]

Preparing for TED2026: All of Us (13–17 April, Vancouver).

[George Butler @george_butler]

3/10 — Ten Portraits x Ten Stories

I met Khalid when he was 11 in a refugee camp. Just 20 days after his world changed, he told me:
“I want to be a doctor… and protect my family.”
One of the bravest people I’ve ever met.

[George Butler @george_butler]

2/10: Ten Portraits x Ten Stories.

Mama Nazak, 62, Syria/Turkish border, 2012