Live Drawing Shows
In theatre, cinema, galleries and clubs, I create live drawing shows which bring together filmmaking, performance and drawing.
Real time drawing with storytelling, voice over, off the cuff comedy and music.
I create from my own life often but increasingly look outside to nature for example, The Day in the life of a Beaver, or am commissioned for example by The Royal College of Nursing about nursing and the climate crisis.
I’m always up for a challenge - drawing is so great with that and riffing with a live audience.
The day in the life of a beaver
How I found myself by looking at a beaver
This show started its life from a commission from Proposition Gallery to make art about keystone species. The show ran from April to June 2026 in the gallery’s cinema space alongside a drawing installation in the gallery.
Starting from my urban, non nature, practically terrified of animals life view - I began to explore the beaver who is coming back to the UK after 400 years of being extinct.
I am beginning to learn about myself through drawing and learning about the beaver. It came just as the right time for me
Beavers are keystone animals - their very way of life helps others, unintentionally, they create their world and in doing so build healthy worlds for other animals including humans.
The show is a mix between stand up, storytelling, art making in real time, with voiceover, music and sound effects. Each show is different; riffing with the audience, letting the drawing sometimes lead the way. It’s a unique, mesmerising and uplifting experience.
This show is accompanied by a beaver lodge installation in the gallery within the Keystone Species exhibition at Proposition Bethnal Green. In the lodge, there are drawings and paintings of beaver life and thought.
Grandma Ray
Connection between generations
My first live drawing show about the relationship between my grandma Rachel and me.
This show looks at the similarities between generations. Hidden secrets that get found out too late.
How my grandma who was an eastender who sometimes went posh and had hidden dreams and desires. She wanted to be free from the shackles of the conventions she was born into, as she told me, “I was born married” and “you must never get trapped”.
Her words stuck with me and I wished I could have spoken more freely with her. This show is my way of doing that.
Drawing on the Bottle
A personal story about drink
I thought I was a good drinker and then I turned bad.
Resisting the conventional ways of giving up alcohol, or more, trying them and giving alcohol another go. I’ve finally stopped using drink to elevate me or accompany me. This is my personal take on alcohol through drawing, voice over, music and song.
Created in 2023 . First shown at The Camden People’s Theatre
This show will be part of Totnes Fringe in 2026
What is Lesbian Film?
DIY filmmaking
Why do we watch films? How did I make films? Will I make one again? Drawing the answer out with an audience in the room. Learn about film through drawing in real time and big film music.
The Many Faces of Eve
A live drawing show based on the 1950s film All About Eve.
This classic woman’s film from 1950 was nominated for more Oscars than any film until Titanic matched it. The storyline critiqued the whole system of fame and awards with wry humour.
All About Eve is written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and stars Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders and Celeste Holm.
The Many Faces of Eve, drawn, created and performed by Lisa Gornick, is a new working of the story centred around a theatre actor thrown into huge existential questions when she meets a younger fan.
This is a rethinking of the film - finding new elements in it, enjoying looking around what it says and portraying it all with an alternative lens using drawing at its centre.
Irreverent and adoring at the same time. This is a new show of a classic film turned over and around and into something new.
How to do it
Love, sex and drawing
Love, sex and drawing. Finding out through remembering our mistakes. Finding a new way to be with ourselves and each other. The answer is found through drawing. Last show of the season. Books, drawings, explorations and a kind hangout.
Extracts form various Live Performance Shows