Image credit: work by illustrator & ARTSTHREAD member Lizzy Itzkowitz, alumna of SVA The School of Visual Arts

Interested in a career as an illustrator? ARTS THREAD’s career education specialist and digital editor Jacqui Rudd has lots of advice and tips on how to become a professional illustrator as part of ARTSTHREAD’s Creative Career Guides Series.

Illustrators produce drawings, paintings and designs for book illustrations, greetings cards, infographics, planners, packaging and marketing material. Some illustrators specialise in specific fields, such as in marketing, publishing, corporate work, editorial, education, heritage, fashion, merchandising and multimedia. Most illustrators are self-employed and need business skills to market their services and products, network, manage finances and promote themselves as an expert in their field.

For an insider perspective on a career in illustration check out our interviews with: Lizzy Itzkowitz, Theo Payne and Karen JY Sung.

Career Options in Illustrator

Freelance Illustrator
The majority of professional illustrators are self-employed and work in studios to create their designs. They take on long and short term design contracts to create their clients desired illustrations. Some companies do hire in-house illustrators but these designers usually have a lengthy portfolio of work that suits the business, their needs and branding.

Illustration Teacher
Teaching is another possible career path for illustrators. Schools, colleges and universities often hire artists to teach classes, and some illustrators may be able to give private lessons. Additionally, some museums and galleries hire designers and illustrators for workshops and demonstrations.

Design Assistant
Assisting a more established illustrator allows you to shadow them, as well as support them with their business and producing their designs, it's a great way to develop your skills and understanding of how to start and run a business as an illustrator.

What you need to become an Illustrator

Although qualifications aren’t essential to starting a career in illustration, and some illustrators are able to learn their skills on their own, formal education or training can be enormously helpful. Many illustrators will study degrees in areas such as illustration, graphic design or fine art.

Studying illustration at an undergraduate or postgraduate level might help you to hone practical skills, gain career support, network within the industry and overall develop your practice. However, further education institutes also provide a variety of suitable courses to develop skills to support your career as an illustrator.

Many forms of creative education, including illustration, can be achieved alongside part-time work as you develop towards your dream career.

Building a specialist portfolio in Illustration

Creating a portfolio is all about showcasing your best work, your skills, the techniques you use and what you can offer potential clients, customers, employers and collaborators. While training and developing your skills you will also create your own style as an illustrator, what techniques you like to utilise and a collection of work will evolve. When you’re putting together a portfolio of your work, consider the context and purpose first.

Portfolio for Applications – for residencies or postgraduate study
Through your pieces and portfolio, tell a story of how you developed your collection, your influences and where your work will go next.

Online Portfolio – to sell pieces of work or attract commissions
Highlight pieces that showcase your best work, skills you are developing and what you can offer to customers and clients. This can be displayed on your own website or through an ARTSTHREAD member free profile.

Build a portfolio of work from:

• Projects you complete over your training and qualifications


• Experimenting in the studio and creating work for sale at markets and shops


• Participating in contests, awards and competitions


• Get pictures of your work on exhibition at galleries and trade fairs


• Taking on commissions from clients

Here are some brilliant example illustration portfolios by ARTSTHREAD members: Gosia Grodzka, Miki Wong and Lizzy Itzkowitz.

For postgraduate applications check out our other guide Preparing Your Portfolio For Postgraduate Application.

Tips for starting an Illustration Design Business

• Get Work Experience: Either during your degree and/or an internship after you graduate, gaining work experience can be a boost for your CV but also help you understand where you’ll want to take your career and add to your portfolio of work.


• Network: This is a skill you have to master and use regularly in any freelance role, uplevel your Linkedin profile, visit events regularly and join groups within your target career path.


• Portfolio: Update your portfolio regularly with new work and make it easy to be seen and shared digitally by clients.


• Promote Yourself: Showcase your work online, on social media and include video into your content. Many illustrators also find it helpful to promote themselves and their business journey through a blog.


• Get an internship: Taking an entry level job assisting an illustrator can be enormously helpful for developing your understanding of the sector, how to gain and work with clients and also how to generally run a small business.


• Set Goals: Your career and development is in your hands, gain clarity on what direction you want to take and set yourself goals and days for reflection on your progress.


• Apply for awards and competitions: Winning or being shortlisted for relevant awards can really support building your brand and is great PR.

For an insider perspective on a career in illustration check out our interviews with: Lizzy Itzkowitz, Theo Payne and Karen JY Sung.