"Joe is really excited to join the Nike Family, he absolutely loves the Brand," Joe's father, Gregory Whale, told CNN via email. "It is a dream come true for him as he loves both Sport and creativity and partnering with Nike will give him the opportunity to embrace both." Joe posts his illustrations to his 119,000 followers on Instagram. Last year he had his first solo show at the Soden Collection, an art gallery in his home town of Shrewsbury, central England, according to the gallery's website.