This sketch was made during a performance at Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, at incredibly rapid speed and only by the light afforded in the tent, by the Brighton-based illustrator, author, poet performer and teacher Curtis Tappenden. He visits many circuses and has made hundreds of lightning drawings capturing the moment at the ringside.

Germaine Delbosq was born into a circus family, first appearing in the circus ring balancing on a globe aged 6. She is sketched here during her foot juggling act on a motorbike, a development of the juggling skills she learned from her father.

After beginning his performing career as Zippo the Clown in the 1970s, Martin Burton started Zippos Circus in 1986 as a non-animal show comprising four clowns, two jugglers and a pianist, with a stage instead of a circus ring. Zippos is now one of the UK’s top three circuses, touring the country from April to October. Its spin-off Cirque Berserk! which started out at Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland in 2012, tours the UK from January to March performing in theatres.