A schoolboy who used to get into trouble for doodling in class when he was bored has now signed a lucrative deal with sports giant Nike.
Joe Whale, 12, was sent to an after-school art club by his parents after he kept being told off for drawing during lessons.
He soon attracted an army of fans around the world – including Prince William and Kate – after his art teacher began putting his fun sketches on Instagram.
Joe, AKA ‘The Doodle Boy’, has since landed a deal to illustrate a series of childrens’ books and has decorated hospitals, restaurants and even a TV set in the USA.
He was also hired by the The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to record one of their tours in December 2020.
Joe, of Shrewsbury, Shrops., has now landed another global deal with sports brand Nike as a “co-creator” to promote the firm online and encourage kids to be more creative.
He said: “This is one of my dreams. Nike is such a big thing and there’ll be loads of fun stuff coming up soon that I’m really excited for.
“I just keep telling myself, do what you love, do what you love, doodle. It feels very good. I’m really proud of myself.
“I don’t really think about what I’m doing, I just go ahead with it and just create from my mind. I don’t really plan, I just do what I’m feeling.
“I spend one or two hours a day drawing, sometimes more – when I wake up in the morning, near lunchtime and in the afternoon.
“I have always drawn all my life since I was two or three.
“I started doodling when I was six or seven when I wanted to change my style. It has worked out really well.
“I have a few characters in my doodles but my focus is on monsters and aliens.
“When I’m angry I go to my room and start doodling. It makes me feel happy. It is one of the most relaxing things I do. “
Joe’s first book ‘Game of Scones’ is a child fiction story written by author Eric Luper and features his illustrations.
It will be released next month and tells the story of a group of different foods living together at a school called Belching Walrus Elementary.
Proud dad Greg Whale, 42, said: “The book is geared around characters Joe likes to draw and he loves drawing characters from food and monsters and stationery.
“It’s been a rollercoaster couple of years. It is amazing for him.
“He definitely doesn’t get it from me, I’m fairly good at art but only on a realistic scale, the imagination is more from his mum’s side.”
