Illustrator

Introduction

Illustrators produce drawings, images, paintings or diagrams for a wide variety of products. They use a range of artistic and graphic techniques. Some illustrators specialise in illustrating particular areas, such as medical, technical or scientific manuals, fashion magazines or children's books.

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Work Activities

Illustrators produce drawings, images, painting or diagrams to communicate ideas or information visually, make a product easier to understand or appear more attractive.

Illustrators use a range of artistic and graphic techniques, producing illustrations for a wide variety of products, such as:
• books and book covers
• magazines and comics
• brochures, leaflets and posters
• advertisements and packaging
• greetings cards
• instruction manuals or educational materials
• computer games.

Some illustrators specialise in particular areas. For example, medical illustrators produce images of medical conditions, technical illustrators produce detailed drawings for an instruction manual and a book illustrator may draw images for a book to help visualise the story.

All illustrators usually 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, eg, children, technicians, fashion buyers
• the timescales and budgets involved.

To get all the background information they need, illustrators may have to do some research on the Internet before they begin sketching their ideas.

Illustrators generally produce a range of ideas. They use computers to create images or manipulate initial sketches and drawings. They may also sketch using hand tools such as pens, pencils, paints, crayons and airbrush techniques. Most illustrators try to develop their own unique style.

The illustrator will present the 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 art work.

Some illustrators may then place their work in the text or appropriate position on the product, or prepare the illustration for printing.

A lot of illustrators are freelance, working on a wide range of products for different clients.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Illustrators use computer software packages widely to enhance or create illustrations; knowledge and experience of these is important. You also need excellent drawing skills and a creative imagination. You should be able to work using different art techniques and mediums. An eye for detail and an awareness of colour, shape and form is important.

You will need to communicate effectively when dealing with colleagues and clients. You may be asked to change some of your original ideas or drawings, so you should be able to handle criticism.

Good research skills are useful, as is the ability to translate information given in a brief into workable, imaginative ideas. Depending on the type of illustration you do, you may need specialist knowledge and an interest in a particular subject area.

You should be able to meet deadlines and have a flexible approach to your work. If you work as a freelance illustrator, you will benefit from having some business and marketing skills.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for illustrators vary with the industry and the range of work they accept.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Employed illustrators earn in the range of £20,000 - £25,000 a year, rising to around £26,500 - £35,000 a year. Pay rates for freelance illustrators vary with the job. A useful guide to freelance rates is found on the National Union of Journalists website - see contact details.

Self-employed illustrators can earn as much or more as employees, however, earnings in the early years will be low, and when established, will fluctuate according to the workload. Some illustrators combine graphic design with illustration in order to maintain a decent income.

Employed illustrators usually work a basic 39-hour week, Monday to Friday. Self-employed illustrators set their own hours, which may be irregular, depending on how much work they have. However, in both cases, late finishes and weekend work is required from time to time, especially to meet deadlines.

Work is available in most parts of the UK, although openings are limited. Most illustrators are self-employed and often work from home. They gain work from publishers, advertising agencies, the broadcasting industry, architects and contractors.

Some freelance illustrators use the services of agents to gain commissions and short-term contract work. Some illustrators advertise via their own website.

There is a lot of competition to enter this work.

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Adult Opportunities

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.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

To enter this work or relevant courses, you need to have a portfolio of work showing your creative ability.

Part-time courses at local colleges or home study (using CDs) in computer design packages such as QuarkXpress, Freehand, Flash, etc are useful to maintain/develop skills, and enhance your portfolio of work.

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

• 83% of people in occupations such as illustrator are self-employed.
• 22% work part-time.

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New Developments

This occupation may involve homeworking.  Find out more about Working from home.