Illustrator
Illustrators produce drawings, paintings or diagrams for use in products like books and greetings cards, or on packaging.
- Typical hours39 to 41 a week
What you'll do
Your day-to-day tasks might depend on the field of illustration you work in.
As an illustrator you could:
- discuss requirements, or a brief, with authors, editors or designers
- negotiate prices and timescales
- research your creative ideas
- create final illustrations using hand drawing, painting or computer design packages
- promote your business and manage your finances if you're self-employed
Working environment
You could work in a creative studio, from home or at a client's business.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of the fine arts
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- design skills and knowledge
- the ability to use your initiative
- to be flexible and open to change
- knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- thinking and reasoning skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a illustrator
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
University
You could do a higher national diploma or degree in illustration or a related subject like fine art or graphic design.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- between 1 and 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma or degree
College
You could do a course in art and design to help you become an illustrator.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could take an apprenticeship to learn some of the skills you need to get started as an illustrator, like:
- Junior VFX Artist or Assistant Technical Director Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
- Junior Animator Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Direct application
If you do not have art or design qualifications, you can contact companies directly to share examples of your work.
You can find information on the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook on how to:
- get started as a freelance illustrator
- prepare a portfolio
- find a publisher
Career path and progression
If you work freelance, you'll need to build up and maintain a client base.
You can use your illustrating skills in a variety of sectors including:
- advertising
- fashion and merchandising
- publishing
- websites and computer games
With further training and experience you could specialise as a medical illustrator or scientific illustrator. You could also move into teaching.
Career tips
As a freelance illustrator you'll need a portfolio to showcase your work. You'll need this to get onto a course or to show clients.
You might want to create your portfolio on:
- your own website
- a blog
- social media platforms like Instagram
If you're working freelance, you can sell your work directly or through an agent.
Agents have access to a large network of buyers and will take a percentage of your sales as commission. The Society of Artists Agents has details of agents as well as examples of artists' work.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleGraphic designer
- Job roleFine artist
- Job roleAnimator
- Job roleMedical illustrator
- Job roleAdvertising art director
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