Online Talks: Finding Your USP as an Illustrator – Virtual Event

Turn your personal strengths and creative passions into a successful illustration career

House of Illustration is back with another online professional development day, tailor-made for illustrators, this time showing you how to carve out a career in illustration that works for you.

Expect a jam-packed schedule of useful information, practical advice and visual examples from a range of speakers working across the illustration industry.

Speakers will include House of Illustration staff, who will highlight examples of career opportunities in and around galleries, and professional freelancers, who will share their own stories, advice and experiences.

Each one is on a very different career journey, but all have found their own definition of success through identifying their unique personal strengths and pursuing their own creative passions.

You’ll learn how self-reflection and creative exploration can lead to both personal success and professional growth – and that you don’t have to choose one over the other.

What you’ll explore:

• Playing to your strengths
• Developing a personal style or specialism
• Initiating your own projects
• Taking a DIY approach
• Building and maintaining an online presence
• Finding the right people to work with
• Seeking new opportunities
• Broadening your practice
• Staying true to yourself
• Taking time to reflect

Confirmed speakers

Kingsley Nebechi, creative director, artist and illustrator

Kingsley Nebechi will share his career highlights and learnings since graduating in 2013. Kingsley has a wealth of experience and advice to share on finding the right opportunities, working collaboratively and developing a personal style.

From self-initiated projects to commercial commissions, his portfolio spans advertising, publishing, sports, media, solo gallery exhibitions and more. Notable clients include BBC, Nike, Hachette Book Group, The Guardian, The New Yorker, Island Records, Stormzy, Lauryn Hill and Akala.

Merlin Evans, Director of Drawn to Medicine

Merlin Evans will draw upon her experiences as an award-winning illustrator, scribe and educator. This illustrated talk includes practical advice for finding your USP, preparing your pitch, building audience awareness, pricing your work and more.

Specialising in scientific illustration, Merlin currently holds the post of Medical Illustrator in Residence for the Center of Performance Science, a collaboration between the Royal College of Music and Imperial College London. She has lectured internationally and taught at numerous art colleges, schools and universities across the UK. Selected previous clients include Tate Modern, The British Library, The Design Museum, Central Saint Martins, NHS, John Lewis, Bloomsbury Books, Latitude Festival and Time Out.

Olivia Ahmad, Artistic Director at House of Illustration and Editor of Varoom

Olivia Ahmad will summarise the opportunities available to emerging illustrators by working with galleries and the benefits of taking a DIY/proactive approach.

Her presentation will include examples of successful residency applications and tips for illustrators who want to make their online presence stand out to curators and commissioners

Who it’s for?

This professional development day is for illustrators and creatives at all careers stages wanting to reflect on their practice and gain ideas for areas of growth or change.

It will be particularly useful for recent graduates, MA students and emerging illustrators, as well as those taking a non-traditional route through education.

If you’re looking for practical career advice and options for diversifying your practice and income streams, this event is for you.

Tickets £30-55 – concessions available.

To book and for more details, click here