The Illustrator's Guide: How to create an exceptional freelance illustration career

The best way to create a successful illustration career is to start today.

Dive into the world of illustration and freelancing with The Illustrator’s Guide, the complete creative companion to developing an exceptional and fulfilling illustration career, by Industry Professional and experienced Illustration Agent James Hughes.

Whether you are fresh out of college, changing careers or in your early years as an illustrator, The Illustrator’s Guide offers a unique insight into the industry for beginners and aspiring illustrators.
The Illustrator’s Guide walks you through the highs and lows you can expect as an Illustrator, with thoughtful insights and advice to ensure you are working towards sustainable and achievable goals as a creative.

Learn how to:

• Find your drive and create a winning mindset
• Curate a portfolio that clients love
• Form great habits for your creative practice
• Get feedback that supports and improves your work
• Find quality clients and get hired
• Manage your money and business efficiently
• Price work and handle negotiation
• Deal with licensing, rights and contracts
• Secure an agent and work as a team

It’s never been more important to focus on becoming outstanding at your craft.

Competition is fierce and clients are searching for work that is high quality and a professional attitude and passion that matches, not everyone has what it takes.
Working in the illustration field can be a wonderful and fulfilling career, with opportunities to see your work out in the world, bringing words to life or advertising the world's most prestigious brands. A career in illustration can offer endless opportunities to captivate, motivate and educate audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It’s not easy but it’s worth the effort!

Everybody Starts Somewhere

This book will help guide you towards focusing your creativity, cultivating a mindset that can sustain you through the harder slow periods and inspire you during the busiest.
With reliable and repeatable steps, this book has been developed with the intention that it can be picked up and read throughout any illustrator’s journey, with quick to access sections and a variety of activities to revisit, this guide acts as a creative companion from Day One of your Illustration journey.

“Excellent Advice, for whatever stage you’re at as an illustrator”
“For any illustrator who's looking to take the leap to freelance, this is an absolute essential.”
“An essential for anybody new to the business, or interested in it as a career.”

Throughout the chapters, you will learn everything from setting up as a freelancer, including initial costs and advice on how to balance your illustration work / life, to how to develop your new freelance business and get comfortable with pricing and negotiating. With everything from copyright and licensing to contracts, The Illustrator’s Guide is a comprehensive companion written from years of experience and working with industry professionals, with tips and tricks of the trade to give you the best head start in your practice as possible.

Who Is This Book For?

This book was written with freelance illustrators in mind, for those who are committed to developing their skills, want to offer the world something outstanding and have the drive (but maybe not the know-how) to push themselves to achieve it.

An illustrator who chooses to master their craft and all their skills that go with it, earns the title.

Build confidence. Develop a strong portfolio and mindset. Create a career you are proud of.
The complete motivational toolkit, The Illustrator’s Guide won’t just help you create your illustration career.

It’ll help you make it exceptional.

James Hughes is an illustration agent at Folio Art in the UK, representing some of the best international professional illustrators. He has also been a contributor and contract adviser for the Association of Illustrators. James shares tips on the business of illustration through his blog and YouTube channel: The Illustrator's Guide and coaches and mentors freelance illustrators to help them get started in their creative careers.