Illustrator

Illustrators produce drawings, images, paintings or diagrams for a wide variety of products. They use a range of artistic and graphic techniques. Illustrators usually specialise in a particular area, such as medical, technical or scientific manuals, or commercial illustration.

Work activities

Illustrators produce drawings, images, paintings or diagrams to communicate ideas or information visually, or to make a product or some information easier to understand or appear more attractive. Illustrators use a range of artistic and graphic techniques, producing illustrations for a wide variety of areas, such as:

• Books and book covers.
• Reference material.
• Publicity and advertisements.
• Websites and reports.
• Instruction manuals or training/educational material.

Illustrators usually specialise in a particular area. For example, medical illustrators produce images of medical conditions, technical illustrators produce detailed drawings for instruction manuals and commercial illustrators draw images to help make a product more attractive. All illustrators begin their work from a brief, given by a client. This usually outlines:

• What information the user needs to get from the illustration.
• What type of product needs illustrating.
• The style, theme or mood.
• Who it is aimed at, e.g. students, technicians, fashion buyers.
• The timescales and budgets involved.

To get all the background information they need, the illustrator may do some research before they begin sketching their ideas, for example, reading through texts. They may then create a storyboard, which is a breakdown of a sequence of illustrations, often with accompanying text, to show how they would follow from each other, for example, in a book.  The illustrator will present their initial ideas and drawings to the client, who may accept them or ask that some changes be made. Once the ideas have been approved, the illustrator then goes on to draw the final artwork.

A lot of illustrators are freelance, working on a wide range of products for different clients. Depending on the area of illustration, many illustrators need to discuss their work with designers, photographers, authors and so on.

Personal qualities and skills

As an illustrator, you need:

• A creative imagination.
• To work well using different art techniques.
• An understanding of colour, shape and form.
• Knowledge of computer graphics software and digital imaging.
• Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• To work to deadlines and budgets.

Depending on the type of illustration you do, you may need specialist knowledge and an interest in the subject area. If you work as a self-employed or freelance illustrator, you’ll need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for illustrators vary with the industry and range of work they accept. Many illustrators are self-employed, working on a freelance basis, and fees can vary with the job. Experience and the type of work illustrators do also affects their pay. A useful guide to freelance rates is found on the London Freelance website (covers all regions of the UK). Self-employed illustrators can earn as much or more than those employed by an organisation. However, earnings when starting out can be low, and when established may fluctuate according to the workload. Some illustrators combine graphic design with illustration in order to maintain a decent income.

Illustrators typically work a 39-41-hour week, Monday to Friday. Part-time opportunities are also available. Self-employed illustrators set their own hours, which may be irregular, depending on how much work they have. However, late finishes and weekend work are required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

Commercial illustrators gain work from publishers, advertising agencies, the broadcasting industry and commercial businesses. Medical illustrators work in hospitals and medical schools, in private medicine and in research establishments. Opportunities for illustrators occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Most illustrators are self-employed and often work from home. However, the ability for individuals to promote their work online via the internet means location is less important for self-employed illustrators. Some freelance illustrators use the services of agents to gain commissions and short-term contract work. Some illustrators advertise via their own website.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications can also be effective.

Entry routes and training

Illustrators usually benefit from training – meaning that in practice they often have a degree or other higher-level qualification in illustration or a related subject. Illustrators with experience who have worked in a commercial environment may also be able to enter this profession. Relevant foundation degrees, HNCs and HNDs are available and can be used as a route on to degree courses. Subjects like graphic design, and art and design would be most useful. Foundation courses in art and design are available and can be used as a route on to degree courses.

Another way into the industry is to do a related apprenticeship and then move into illustration. Relevant schemes are level 4 or higher apprenticeship:

• Junior animator
• Junior visual effects – VFX artist or assistant technical director

The Association of Illustrators (AOI) provides seminars and training events for members. There are also postgraduate courses in illustration. Some focus on specific areas, for example, children’s books. If you choose to go into medical illustration, the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) can provide information on training and courses.

Many illustrators become self-employed once fully trained. Some illustrators move into management positions within an organisation or become art directors.

Qualifications

For entry to a relevant degree, you’ll usually need:

• Two or more A-levels. Many courses ask that you have at least a B grade in an art-based subject.
• Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4. A pass in English is often required.

Alternatives to A levels include:

• A BTEC level 3 National diploma in fine art or related subject.
• An advanced apprenticeship.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work. Some people enter this career via a Foundation course in Art and Design.  The usual entry requirements for a relevant Foundation course are:

• One to two A-levels. You’ll need an-A level in art or in an art-based subject.
• GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects. Some courses ask that you have a pass in English.

To do a higher apprenticeship, you’ll need two A-levels as well as GCSEs in English and maths.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Relevant skills gained in graphic design, for example, are useful. However, entry to this work is very competitive. To enter the work or relevant courses, you need to have a portfolio of work showing your ability. Many illustrators use agents in order to find possible work.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. Part-time courses at local colleges or home study in computer design packages such as QuarkXpress, Freehand, Flash, etc, are useful to maintain/develop skills, and enhance your portfolio of work. Part-time and distance learning MA/PgD/PgCs in Illustration are available at numerous universities and educational establishments.

The Association of Illustrators (AOI) runs occasional seminars (for example, Introduction to starting out as an illustrator), which are useful for newcomers.

Related careers

• Animator
• Artist
• Graphic designer