About

ABOUT ME:

Hi i'm Vijay. I create Art. I'm also passionate about helping people. Follow me on my journey...

BIO:

Watford based neurodiverse artist, Vijay Panchal, specialises in character design, visualising dreams, and emotions. In 2010, Vijay attained his BA (Hons) in 2D Digital Animation focusing on communicating emotions through anthropomorphic characters. Vijay’s work has continued to organically grow, he has combined expressionism and figurative art to create series of compositions on different media such as prints and t-shirts. His struggles with expression have inspired him in his goal to help others express themselves. Commissions include upcycling instruments for Electric Umbrella, children's book illustrations, music cover art, apparel designs for Differently Perfect and Neurodivergent Pride and a multimedia project for the Thames Hospice including animation.

Due to battles with chronic ailments, Vijay is currently working on voluntary and charitable commissions and workshops of which he has accumulated 14 years of experience serving thousands of participants. From 2021 he has exhibited locally in Hertfordshire and at the Brick Lane Gallery. In 2022 he was a Finalist on the 7th Abstract International Juried Art Competition and Longlisted for the Visual Artists Open. In 2023 Vijay completed the Hatch New Founders Launchpad Programme to develop facilitating his art wellbeing workshops. He has held them at Parallel Windsor, A2ndvoice, and the London Autism Group Charity

Experience:

2026

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @
- My Child Has A Speech Delay - Croydon
- London Autism Group Charity
- A2ndvoice - Tooting

2025

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @
- My Child Has A Speech Delay - Croydon
- You're Never Alone - Croydon
- AIM - Woolwich
- Parallel Windsor
- Posca x Spray Paint Workshops + Jeans Festival Participation - Positivi-Tees + M&G Productions + MK Oasis - Milton Keynes
- Spray Paint x Posca T-shirt Workshop - Positivi Tees - Action on Disability - White City
- Freida's Place - Book Launch - Catford
- Voices For Autism - Nunhead/Elephant Castle
- Imagine Independence-Barkingside
- London Autism Group Charity
- A2ndvoice - Tooting
- LIS - London

2024

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @
- Imagine Independence-Barkingside
- AIM - Woolwich
- Uncommon - Remote/Online
- A2ndvoice CIC - Tooting
- Disability Awareness Festival - Wanstead
- Parallel Winsdor
- Hatch - London
- 1:1 workshop - London

2023

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @
- Jubilee House-Welwyn Garden City
- Disability Awareness Festival - Wanstead
- Parallel Winsdor
- 1:1 Amanda Wells Traumatology

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @ Disability Awareness Festival
https://adultcare.redbridge.gov.uk/news/disability-awareness-festival/

Art Wellbeing Workshop Facilitator @ Parallel Windsor
https://www.parallellifestyle.com/windsor

1:1 creative Mentor @ Amanda Wells Traumatology
https://healingcptsd.co.uk/

2022

Volunteer Creative Mentor @ Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce
- Supporting kickstarters with their creative ventures through demonstrations, assisting, bouncing ideas and constructive criticism.
- Giving advice on resources, project planning, goal setting, pathways and more.

2017 -2018

Art Facilitator @ hERTFORDSHIRE M.E./CFS SUPPORT Group
https://www.hertsmecfs.org/
I FacilitatED art workshops to aid M.E/CFS and Fibromyalgia sufferers.

2015 - 2016

Playworker @ The J.K.Club
http://jkclub.co.uk/
I had the opportunity of providing the children with a stimulating environment through creative play opportunities. I facilitated art sessions on a daily basis. The children got a chance to create artwork in groups and experiment with a range of medium from clay to charcoal.

2014 - 2015

Teaching Assistant @ The Russell School
Within this employment i supported individual pupils with special educational needs. I got the chance to teach the Year 5 students how to draw portraits using pencils and paint. They loved it!

2013

Freelance Assistant for Sasha Alexander.
http://sasha-alexander.com/

Freelance Assistant for Yumi Sakaki.
http://www.yumgsta.com/portfolio/

Freelance Assistant for James Crabb.
http://www.jamescrabb.net/Welcome.html

Freelance Assistant for Joelle Deroy.
http://www.artistregister.com/deroy.html

Gallery Assistant for The Brick Lane Gallery.
http://www.thebricklanegallery.com/
Alongside the general gallery duties, i applied the skills i had learnt to a contemporary portraiture exhibition. This included many duties, from creating its title and writing the press release to discussing the artwork showcased with the public at the private view.

Teaching Assistant for The Sunny Art Studio
http://yinjieart.com/
I assisted students in developing their understanding of practicing art.

Mural on Paintworks Art Retail Shop

Band Promoter for Lucas and King.
www.facebook.com/lucasandking

Portrait Artist for Awaiting Eyes Foundation.
https://www.facebook.com/Awaiting-Eyes-Foundation-1521200918128343/photos?ref=page_internal
I created portraits of the orphans and widows affected by the flood in Pakistan in 2005 to aid the charity.
(Go to the portraits in the 'People' section of the 'Work' page: 'Muqadas' (2013), 'Sabri' (2013), 'Abdullah 2' (2013), 'Ali Raza' (2013), 'Saira' (2013), 'Abdullah' (2013) )

2012

Support Worker @ Vision Mental Healthcare
I got the opportunity to support clients on the Autistic Spectrum by preparing and facilitating therapeutic sessions arts and crafts sessions.

2011
Volunteer @ The Museum of Everything
http://www.musevery.com/#main
I raised awareness of this non-profit charity for self taught artists by speaking with guests.

training:

2023
-AFTER DIAGNOSIS - NAVIGATING LIFE WITH A DYSLEXIA DIAGNOSIS +
-HOW TO BE CONFIDENT WITH ADULT DYSLEXIA +
-HOW EMBRACING MY NEURODIVERSITY CHANGED MY VIEW OF COMPANY CULTURE +
-THE SECRETS OF DYSLEXIA - WHERE IT HIDE AND HOW TO FIND IT +
@ THE NEURODIVERSITY SHOW

-CONNECTING THE DOTS: IMPROVING MENS' MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH +
-UNSEEN STRUGGLES: THE URGENT NEED FOR COUNSELLING ACCESS FOR ADULT ADOPTEES
@ tHE OLLIE FOUNDATION

2022
ZSA SUICIDE AWARENESS TRAINING @ ZERO SUICIDE ALLIANCE

SPOT THE SIGNS AND SAVE A LIFE SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING @ HERTS mIND NETWORK

-TALK SAFE PLAN SAFE - SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING +
-KEEPING SAFE AND CARRYING ON
@ tHE OLLIE FOUNDATION

Level 1 Award in Awareness of First Aid for mental health @ first aid awards ltd

2015
safeguarding of children awareness @ tutor care ltd

2014
herts primary teaching assistant conference @ hfl education

2012
advanced training on the autism spectrum @ faiers associates

group work facilitation training @ vmh support ltd

equality + diversity @ brainstore learning

safeguarding of vulnerable adults @ brainstore learning

disengagement + de escalation training @ vmh support 2012

EDUCATION:

2026
pathological demand avoidance diploma: distinction @ centre of excellence
150 CPD Points

2025
The bereavement journey @ Ataloss

2024 - 2026
Level 1 Regulate Program +
Level 2 Integrate Mentorship
@ Primal Trust Academy

2023 - 2024
ptsd awareness diploma: distinction @ centre of excellence
150 CPD Points

2021
Start up + Succeed as a Creative business @ Ravensbourne University

2017 - 2018
Holistic Health Practitioner Course: Distinction @ Centre of excellence
150 CPD Points

2014 - 2015
Level 3 diploma in counselling skills: Pass @ the mary ward centre

2007 - 2010
BA (HONS) 2D Digital Animation: 2:1 @ The University of Hertfordshire
Specialising in Character Design

2005 - 2006
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design: Distinction @ The West Herts College
Specialising in Animation

1998 - 2005
a Levels: Art:A, Product Design:B, ICT:D @ Westfield Academy
Ogbourne award for Art 2005

AWARDS:

2022
fINALIST FOR THE 7TH ABSTRACT INTERNATIONAL JURIED ART COMPETITION @ ART SHOW INTERNATIONAL GALLERY

Longlisted (FROM 3000 ARTISTS) for the Visual Art Open @ vISUAL ARTISTS ASSOCIATION