Apprenticeship Illustrator Jobs

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Helping you find a career in the illustrator industry

Illustrators are commissioned to create drawings for book covers, advertisements, catalogues and greeting cards. Most illustrators are self-employed and they are normally contracted through an agent to produce their drawings.

There are many types of illustrators. A corporate illustrator works on brochures and catalogues whilst a multimedia illustrator works on apps, animations and computer games.

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FAQs

FAQs

What does an Illustrator do?

A typical day for an Illustrator will involve:

Communicating with writers, editors and designers to make sure everyone is on the same page
Researching themes and ideas for their work (for example, recurring motifs in the text of an book they are illustrating)
Drawing rough sketches and sending them for approval
Promoting their illustrations
Thinking outside of the box in order to produce creative designs
Working within tight deadlines
Researching galleries to find suitable venues to exhibit work
Building contacts and networking with art directors, editors, publishers, which may help increase commission rates

Skills & interests required for an Illustrator

Excellent artistic skills (of course!)
Imagination
Ability to self-manage
Research skills
Good writing and communication skills
Ability to market skills particularly through social media
Ability to follow instructions and work to the client's brief
Able to meet set deadlines

What hours does an Illustrator typically do?

Illustrators tend to set their own working hours since they are self-employed. They may work long hours during the day or the weekend in order to finish a commission on time. However, this will vary with the individual illustrator.

What environment is an Illustrator based in?

At home or in a studio.

How much does an Illustrator travel?

Travel is expected from studios to meetings.

How much does an Illustrator get paid?

An Illustrator will earn between £15,000 to £20,000 per annum as a starting salary.

An experienced illustrator with several years' experience will earn between £20,000 to £30,000 per annum.

A well-established illustrator can earn up to £40,000 per annum.

Perks & benefits

The ability to set your own schedule and express yourself creatively.

What qualifications does an Illustrator need?

There are no minimum qualifications needed for this role except a creative eye and artistic talent.

If you are looking to enter this field then it is important that you start building an art portfolio to show that you have creative flair and are able to work to a brief. The portfolio could include your own designs for existing books, CD covers or greeting cards alongside original work. The more you cover the better. If you decide to redesign a well-known book cover then interpret it in a way that hasn't been done before.

Pursuing a degree or Higher National Diploma is beneficial if you intend to teach art or learn specific skills like graphic design and animation.