How to become an artworker

Artworkers use their creative skills to produce visuals that help to communicate a company's message or brand

As an artworker you'll produce commercial-quality artwork across a range of media by taking a design concept from a designer and tidying it up so it can be used in projects and content.

You'll usually work with a variety of formats and channels, designing artwork for websites, e-marketing and digital media, as well as print. You'll typically be based in a design agency, print house, or shared studio and will work closely as part of the creative team. You will be involved in each project from start to finish to ensure that the artwork meets the needs of the client's brief and any brand guidelines.

Your work may involve retouching, reworking or fixing the design, customising typography, colour balancing, resizing documents and eliminating any inconsistencies. You'll have a great eye for detail and will be able to spot potential problems with designs.

The role is competitive and closely related to the work of a graphic designer, and there may be some overlap. However, many companies still employ an artworker rather than incorporating the work into that of a graphic designer.

What does an artworker do?

As an artworker, you'll need to:

work closely with and support the creative team, following designs and artwork from their conception to final sign-off
create corporate designs across a range of formats using software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, including Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator
create visual concepts and retouch images to ensure they meet print and web standards, such as colour, typography and image libraries
correct and format documents before they're sent to the printers
ensure artwork is consistent, accurate and follows any brand guidelines
impose variable print files for digital print
set up, manage and archive accurate artwork files and supply to relevant stakeholders
manage and update an in-house image library
carry out proof checking prior to print
create web assets to size and scale
check printers' proofs
adapt existing artwork to alternative layouts and/or formats
liaise with external printers and act as a point of contact for the artwork department of the studio or company
keep up to date with the latest design trends
be aware of AI tools for productivity, upscaling, and improving resolution.

In a senior artworker role, you'll also need to:

approve artwork created by junior artworkers
ensure all artwork produced meets client and brand guidelines
manage and mentor a team of junior artworkers
manage and schedule all artwork for the whole team
provide artistic direction on projects and strategic planning, as well as creative and promotional marketing services.

Artworker salaries in the UK

Junior artworkers can expect a salary of £20,000 to £27,000, depending on experience, hours and age.
With experience (mid-level artworker), you can expect to earn between £25,000 and £37,000.
Senior creative artworkers and studio managers can earn up to £50,000 per year.

Salaries vary depending on the sector you work in, the type of employer (e.g. design agency or in-house team) and your location, as well as your experience and reputation. The best paid jobs are usually in London and other large cities.

Freelance work is an option. Artists Union England provides guidelines on rates of pay for professionals working freelance in the art industry.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does an artworker work?

You will usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However, late finishes and weekend work may be required, especially as deadlines approach.

Part-time work is typically possible.

Qualifications and courses that cover desktop publishing and computer graphics software are useful for becoming an artworker. Relevant subjects include:

3D design
art and design
fine art
graphic design
illustration
visual art.

A degree is not essential to become an artworker, but in such a competitive industry, any design-based course that gives you grounding and knowledge of art and design is helpful. You may consider a degree, HND or foundation degree level course, or online or further education courses. You may also consider getting started in artwork through a creative and design apprenticeship.

It's vital that you build up a strong portfolio of work alongside your qualifications to show to potential employers. This will add value and demonstrate your artistic talent.

You will also need to have good knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud design software, such as Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop.

It may be possible to find an entry-level position where you can train on the job, building up skills as you go.

Key skills for an artworker

You'll need to have:

an organised approach for archiving images and artwork
collaborative and communication skills to work closely with senior account managers, account executives, designers, printers and clients
confidence with using the latest desktop publishing (DTP) software, working with both Macs and PCs
creative design, layout, retouching and typography skills to create visual concepts
self-motivation in order to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

In some roles, you may also need to have:

an understanding of areas such as photography, filmmaking or studio lighting
knowledge of basic HTML and CSS, along with experience with content management systems.

Artworker work experience

It's essential that you build a portfolio of your work to show to employers. You can find experience to include in your portfolio through a number of ways. An internship or summer placement is a great way start. You can approach organisations yourself or see what options are available through your university or college.

It's also helpful to get involved in a live project. This could be commercial work or a self-initiated project, for example, you could approach voluntary organisations to see if you can work on some of their campaigns to build up your experience. Student societies may also welcome your design skills to help promote their activities. It's also perfectly acceptable to create your own projects and designs to include in your portfolio as examples of what you can do.

Try to ensure your portfolio shows experience with a range of programmes and materials.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs artworkers?

Artworker jobs can be with a design agency, print house, advertising agency or art studio that provides design work for clients, or within larger companies and organisations in an in-house design role. These can include firms involved with point of sale and display, television, film and audio-visual companies, and publicity departments in large organisations.

You may choose to work on a freelance basis, taking on projects for various clients. This is more common once you have built up your experience.

Look for job vacancies at:

Vacancies are also handled by specialist recruitment agencies such as Source and The Candidate.

LinkedIn is a great way to network and get in contact with potential employers, and jobs are sometimes advertised on it.

Social media channels are other ways of networking, showcasing your work and making contacts.

Where can a career as an artworker lead?

After building your experience and portfolio as a junior and more experienced artworker you can take leadership and management courses to support your continuing professional development (CPD). Senior artworkers may also manage studios, become creative directors, and set up their own companies.

It may also be possible to move into other related work. For example, you can use the artworker role as a way into graphic design, although you may need to undertake further training and qualifications to make the transition. For more information, see graphic designer.

It's important to keep your skills and knowledge up to date throughout your career as design trends evolve and new and updated software packages emerge.

You can do this through in-house training courses, more typical in larger organisations, or by taking specific design and technology courses in areas such as:

AI tools to optimise workflow automation
desktop publishing
specific software packages such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
web languages such as HTML and CSS.

It's also helpful to read industry press, such as Design Week, to keep up with new developments in the sector.

You may want to consider becoming a member of the Chartered Society of Designers (CSD) which provides access to useful resources, advice and training. As a member of the CSD, you can also be included on their 'Find-a-Designer' directory for clients and employers.