About

Ashwin & Clive

Belfast

Ashwin Chacko and Clive McFarland are award winning illustrators, authors and educators. 

Together they co-founded Illustrators North with the vision to build a thriving community of Illustrators in Northern Ireland, including AOI supported meet ups.

Kat, Abbie, Jen, Pickle & Tom

Birmingham

Katherine Tromans, Abbie Reilly, Jen Leem-Bruggen, Pickle and Tom Woolley are illustrators working across many sectors of the industry.

Together they host Picnic: a creative meet up for illustrators based in and around Birmingham.

Tim & Sean

Brighton

Tim Alexander and Sean O’Brien are commercial illustrators and part of the Lucky Frog Studio collective.

Together they host Flock: a creative meet up for illustrators based in and around Brighton and open to creatives of all backgrounds and career stages.

Jess Knights

Bristol

Jess Knights is an illustrator and creative facilitator with a mission to connect communities online and in real life.

She helps run PIP (Put into Practice): a get together for any and all illustrators in the Bristol area.

Naomi Clarke

Cardiff

Naomi Clarke is an illustrator, educator and designer based in Cardiff.

She hosts Illustration Club: an informal meet up providing a common space for Cardiff illustrators to explore ideas and grow together.

Montana Forbes

Copenhagen, Denmark

Montana Forbes is a fashion, beauty and lifestyle illustrator and is also part of the AOI Board of Directors.

Based in Copenhagen, she co-hosts the newly formed Copenhagen Connects with fellow local illustrator Morten Voigt

AJ Higgins

Falmouth

AJ Higgins is an illustrator creating characterful works from Cornwall.

Together with co-hosts Freymo, Ellie Jahnz and Matt Johnson, they run Hive: a fun and relaxed meet up group open to illustrators based in Falmouth, Penryn and the surrounding areas.

Tita Berredo

Glasgow

Tita Berredo is a Brazilian picture book writer and illustrator.

She hosts Illo G: an exciting, friendly and resourceful group open to all local illustrators in and around Glasgow.

Mathilde Heu

Kent

Mathilde Heu specialises in creating immersive experiences through illustration.

She hosts Kent Illustrators: the Canterbury-based meet up group welcoming all illustrators from across Kent.

Ekaterina Sheath

Leeds

Ekaterina Sheath is a freelance illustrator and mural artist.

Together with co-host Vicky Hughes, they lead BREW: the AOI meet-up group for all illustrators based in Leeds.

Wendy Warren

London

Wendy Warren is a freelance illustrator working on enchanting children’s picture books.

She hosts Blend: a space welcoming local illustrators in and out of London to share ideas together.

Nicola Mullen

Manchester

Nicola Mullen is a Brand & Marketing Coach passionate in mentoring illustrators and creative organisations.

She hosts the Manchester meet up group Drawn In alongside illustrators Nathan Hackett, Catherine Booth, Jordan Yates and Louise French.

Carl Wilson

Newcastle

Carl Wilson is an illustrator working across advertising, branding, murals and more.

Together with co-host Mark Rogerson, they run Mischief: an illustrators’ community for Newcastle to support and inspire one another.

Julia Tray

Norwich

Julia Tray is an illustrator, printmaker and workshop facilitator.

She hosts Crisscross, bringing together the creative community in Norwich and beyond.

Louise Rabey

Plymouth

Louise Rabey is an illustrator, comic artist, and creative facilitator for various creative projects in Plymouth and the South West.

She hosts the Plymouth Illustrators group, which aims to connect illustrators in Plymouth and surrounding areas in Devon. 

Rachelle Panagarry

Preston

Rachelle Panagarry is an illustrator and lecturer at University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN).

She hosts Hand Drawn & Quartered, a creative meet up welcoming all illustrators based in and around Preston and across Lancashire.

Kimberley, Adam & Amelia

Sheffield

Kimberley Kay, Adam Thornton and Amelia Sanders are illustrators working in a variety of sectors.

Together they organise Sheffield Illustrators: a community for illustrators in Sheffield, South Yorkshire and North-East Derbyshire.

Ollie & Becki

York

Ollie Dean and Becki Harper are illustrators working in a variety of sectors.

Together they co-host Drawvik: a meet up group for all illustrators in and around York.

Birgitta & David

Children’s Picture Books

Birgitta Sif and David Barrow are award-winning picture book author/illustrators and educators.

Together they host the online Children’s Picture Books meet ups: a space providing insight, inspiration and creative fun for all illustrators passionate about the craft of picture books.