Where to find work as an Illustrator.

So, you know you want to be an illustrator, but you have no idea what sort of work is out there and where to find it.
Sound familiar?

Here we summarise some of the key areas of speciality for illustrators and how to discover the opportunities that fit your passion.

Advertising

Again, the marketing and advertising industry loves to call illustrators graphic designers and vice-versa, however there is plenty of work out there for illustrators specialising in poster and banner advertising design, where few words and bold character illustrations do all the talking.

The best way to enter the advertising industry as an illustrator is through an agency, where if you choose right you will work on ads for renowned brands and build a reputation for your distinct style.

Fashion and Textiles

The fashion and textile industries rely heavily on illustrators, especially for childrenswear and homewares. For example, a furniture company may advertise for a Soft Furnishings Designer, where you will spend your days designing new cushion covers and duvet sets or prints for rugs and curtains.

There is also good scope to develop independently as a textile designer. The industry is used to buying fabrics at fairs and exhibitions, so if you can develop a strong portfolio and get into one of the popular fairs or design for an exhibiting textiles company, you can make a good living.

Art

Another way to make a living as an illustrator is by selling prints and products featuring your work. For example, you could create limited edition or open-end prints, create your own illustrated cushion covers, design illustrated walls decals for children’s bedrooms, make fashion accessories...

If you’d like to sell your work, test the waters with a simple website, an Etsy store or similar, and get yourself on social media so that you can start sharing your work with the world. You can also exhibit at art fairs like the Cluster Illustration Fair, where you can meet collectors and other artists.