Illustrator

As an illustrator, you'll work according to commercial briefs to inform, persuade or entertain a client's intended audience, adjusting the mood and style of images accordingly. You'll use your creative skills to interpret text and create an illustration that aligns with a concept.

Many illustrators specialise in a particular design medium, such as drawing, photography or digital illustration.

This is typically a freelance role, so most illustrators are self-employed and rely heavily on creating a portfolio of work to gain clients.

Types of illustrator

Areas of work include:

• advertising - posters, storyboards, press
• publishing - books
• corporate work - brochures, catalogues
• editorial - magazines, newspapers and comics
• fashion - forecasting
• merchandising - greetings cards, calendars, t-shirts and ceramics
• multimedia - TV, film, computer games, websites, apps and animation.

Specialist areas include scientific, technical and medical illustration. In these fields, illustrations showing new products, processes or techniques are created for text and reference books. For more information on these types of roles see medical illustrator.

What does an illustrator do?

As an illustrator, you'll need to:

• liaise with clients, editors and authors in order to understand and interpret their business needs
• negotiate pricing and deadlines
• analyse a brief's specification and the text to be illustrated and research sources and appropriate styles
• think imaginatively and creatively to produce new ideas
• create images and designs by using the traditional hand skills of drawing and painting, alongside other techniques, to meet design briefs
• use computer-aided design (CAD) packages to scan images and change size, colours and other elements
• provide roughs for approval
• redefine a brief through feedback with the client to include new ideas or text as appropriate
• run, manage, and promote your business, when working freelance
• speculatively approach potential commissioners to seek new sources of work
• work within a set timescale, often to tight deadlines
• research appropriate galleries to find suitable venues to exhibit work.

Illustrator salaries in the UK

• Most illustrators work on a freelance basis, as salaried roles for illustrators are not common, so income figures are hard to estimate. Prices vary greatly depending on the client and usage of the artwork. Illustrators can also work entrepreneurially, making their own products to sell.
• Income for illustrators starting out will vary as income will depend upon the number of commissions from clients and the level of fees achieved for each commission. Some illustrators also hold a part-time job while they build a client base and portfolio. You'll be able to charge more as you become more established and income should rise with experience. Well-established illustrators may earn up to £44,000 or more.
• If you are unsure what to charge as a freelancer, you can find illustration and cartoon rates for magazines, newspapers, book covers and PR material at Freelance Fees Guide. Fees will vary and negotiation of fee levels is an important part of being a freelance creator. The Association of Illustrators (AOI) has free information on pricing basics, with more detailed information for members including a pricing calculator, and how to negotiate pricing.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does an illustrator work?

To establish and maintain your reputation, you must keep to deadlines. This may mean working long hours, weekends and/or evenings to deliver a brief. As a freelancer, this also means you can be flexible and choose the hours you work outside of the standard 9am-5pm.

How do I become an illustrator?

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects may increase your chances:

• fashion
• fine art
• graphic design and illustration
• photography
• printmaking
• visual art.

Entry without a degree, HND or foundation degree is possible.

While you don't need a pre-entry postgraduate qualification, a postgraduate diploma or MA in graphic design or illustration may be advantageous - especially if you're interested in teaching. Search for postgraduate courses in illustration.

Qualifications and subject of study are less important than a talent for illustration, promotional skills and the ideas contained in your portfolio.

Key skills for an illustrator

To embark on a career as an illustrator, you need:

• adaptability for working to different briefs, incorporating feedback, and managing a varying workload
• communication skills and business acumen to attract and work with a range of clients
• creativity to produce work in a variety of multimedia formats
• knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) techniques and printing processes, including computer graphics for working with digital designs
• marketing skills to promote your work.

How can I get work experience as an illustrator?

As most illustrators are self-employed, finding work experience can be tricky. Self-directed projects are an excellent way of showing your skills, or you may be able to volunteer your services to charities or community organisations, or complete a placement as part of your course.

If you don't have any published work yet, you should create a portfolio demonstrating your ability to work to a brief. This might include designs for a book cover, a set of illustrations for a well-known book, a series of greetings cards, CD covers or illustrations for a technical manual.

Who employs illustrators?

Most illustrators work as self-employed freelance artists, although niche employment areas such as trend forecasting (fashion) and computer games companies offer a limited number of opportunities for full-time employment.

Investigate and take advantage of business start-up schemes to set up a studio and establish sound working practices.

To secure commissions, you'll need to promote your work to art directors, publishing editors and design studio managers. Organise an appointment to show your (targeted) portfolio or picture library to clients who are likely to use your work and create a digital profile to send in advance and to secure meetings.

Identify potential clients using resources such as the:

• AOI Client Directories (paid for resource)
• AOI Publishing Directory - listings of UK publishing commissioners (paid for resource)
• Publishers Association member directory
• Writers' and Artists' website and Yearbook

As well as finding your own commissions, you may choose to work with an agency. Illustration agencies take between 25-35% commission, while literary agents take 15%.

Agencies such as The Bright Agency, Beehive Illustration and Advocate Art represent illustrators and connect them with children's publishers. Some illustrators also sell work through stock houses, which take a substantial commission. It may also be possible to advertise your work directly via directories such as the Creative Review directory.

Advertising agencies and design consultancies can provide lucrative work. Corporate communications remains a viable market for illustration, although it's a competitive area and some firms will use in-house design solutions to keep costs low, rather than turning to freelancers.

Another significant market is the children's book industry, which can be especially lucrative and satisfying if you have a talent for writing as well as illustrating. For exclusive interviews with industry professionals see childrensillustrators.com.

Other markets include:

• animated commercials, animated television shows and short films
• billboards
• film posters
• fine art posters
• government information services (including health and education)
• greetings cards
• packaging.

Look for opportunities at:

• a-n - The Artists Information Company
• Creative Opportunities
• Creativepool
• D&AD
• Writers' and Artists' Yearbook

Illustrators can also be represented by specialist illustration agencies such as Folio illustration agency and the Central Illustration Agency.

Professional development opportunities in illustration

If you gain a good honours degree, you may choose to undertake further study at postgraduate level before starting full-time work, potentially alongside developing your freelance work.

Most postgraduate degrees include a series of studio-based modules, self-directed learning and individual research, as well as professional practice.

Studying at postgraduate level may offer the opportunity to specialise in areas such as:

• children's book illustration
• medical illustration
• sequential design and illustration.

Evening classes, online courses, competitions and workshops, such as those offered by D&AD, are a great way of keeping your portfolio up to date and varied. They may also potentially generate extra exposure.

It's useful to consider training to update your skills in using computer-aided design (CAD) packages, such as Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Procreate. This may help generate more work. A good knowledge of digital media and web marketing skills is also helpful.

Membership of the AOI can be useful and provides members with access to a range of resources and free courses to develop business and management skills and events to help build their business. They also run a mentoring scheme for illustrators in the first three years of their career. The AOI is staffed by practising illustrators and provides help and advice to its members, including advice on career development issues. As a member, you'll receive a regular newsletter, the opportunity to attend seminars on useful issues, help with your portfolio, and advice on contracts and freelance practice. You'll also have the option to add a Folio to showcase your examples of your work, which can be a good source of future commissions.

While many illustrators build successful careers after establishing a reputation, others successfully combine illustration with other types of paid work such as teaching. Others may progress from freelance illustrator to art director with a firm of publishers, and a small number may work as agents for other illustrators.