DOCTOR BOB

I am Bob Armstrong, known professionally as Doctor Bob. I have been in the magnetic Balloon World for over 30 long, hard but incredibly rewarding years with some amazing and comical memories!

As Doctor Bobs Balloons Unlimited Creating from my workshop based in South Wales- this is where I design, consult and create my balloon sculptures, Installations and Balloons for each and every magical and memorable occasion.

As a renowned balloon artist, I began my balloon-twisting career back in the early 90’s.

This is how I earned the nickname ‘AKA Doctor Bob’. My name has created universal interest wherever I travel… an epithet from a previous career, from teaching First Aid and Rescue, dabbling with balloons during classes and if one popped, I would always repair it.

I have owned a retail business for 27 years. I have seen many businesses open and close throughout the years, but I have also proudly been a part of helping many businesses to open and grow! I can even say now we have adapted and survived a pandemic. Who would believe it!

I love the diversity that the job brings. The venues that I have been privileged to transform with the designs and installations that I have created both individually and as part of a team, that is another highlight of this industry, with the bonus of visiting places across the world.

I have been at the forefront of the balloon industry since becoming a ‘Certified Balloon Artist’ back in 2005. I began teaching for Qualatex and continued to teach within the industry ever since both for Pioneer, BAPIA and independently. I take delight in sharing my skills and my knowledge with the next generation of balloon artists through both group training seminars and one-to-one teaching sessions. I have taught alongside other international instructors and as an ambassador of Pioneer. I have also represented the brand through teaching and developing designs over the last two decades.

I have taught at many international industry events for Pioneer including BACI, The Balloon Arts Convention Italy, The IPS, International Party Show, The Millennium Jam, Netherlands, alongside many others in France, Budapest and Poland. I have also carried out many Certified Balloon Artists Exams for Pioneer Europe within the Industry. I have taught many courses for Pioneer, covering Balloon Twisting, Wedding Designs, Retail Portfolio Designs, fundamentals and more.

I have also taught at many wholesalers for manufacturers including Balloon Market, City Greetings, Up Up and Away. I have also done balloon tutorials for online training for the Qualatex channel, BMTV, BAPIA.

BAPIA Fun Days are another great industry event that I have had the honour to teach at.

I am so incredibly passionate about promoting and developing the balloon industry within the UK. In recent years I have teamed up with BAPIA to host the first ever Public Balloon Art Festival, promoting the use environmentally friendly balloons. I have since gone on to host a further three public Balloon Festivals on an even larger scale bringing in over 50 thousand people raising awareness of Balloons.

I as 'Doctor Bob' have inspired, and I hope to continue to inspire many delegates in the industry from retailers to sculptors, twisters, and entertainers. I find it so rewarding to see how everybody evolves.

You will often see me teaching for Industry bodies and suppliers and I look forward to meeting each and every one of you at these events and classes!

I also offer both one to one and group classes that are essentially designed to suit your needs. I endorse the best practices whist teaching you how to work with the amazing medium of Balloons that we all LOVE!

My strapline as Doctor Bob’s is:

'I really can make anything with balloons' another reason why my business took the name of Doctor Bob Balloons Unlimited and that’s certainly the case, I like to think my creativity is boundless.

Doctor Bob xx