Heads Up! Virtual Drink and Draw with AOI Glasgow coming to an internet terminal near you 7pm on 23rd April 2020! We'll be checking in through Zoom, and as ever offer a friendly welcoming space to chat and draw at a time when meeting other illustrators could be even more invaluable than usual. It would be fantastic to see old…

Isolation doesn’t have to mean feeling isolated. During this confusing and disorientating time it’s more important than ever to stay connected, grounded, and communicating with likeminded folks. We invite you to join us for a group video chat to discuss everything and nothing! From a general check-in to see how everybody is faring, how we and The AOI can help,…

Dr Sally Easton is an attachment psychologist and psychotherapist. She manages a wellbeing college for a mental health organisation, works with young people with multiple complex needs, and delivers training in mental health and wellbeing. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology, post graduate degrees in teaching and research, a doctorate in psychology and is a certified Third Wave CBT…

Calling all North East (Scotland) illustrators! Join us for the first ever ABZillo lockdown-friendly digital meet up for an informal evening of doodling and a good old fashioned chin wag from the comfort of your home. BYOB. The meet up will be streamed via ZOOM. Registration is FREE but tickets are limited!

A successful illustration career doesn’t happen from one day to another, and definitely not spontaneously. While creating a strong body of work is important, communication and consistency are also key. This webinar, especially designed for illustration students about to graduate, will cover the following: The importance of being proactive and investing in different avenues in order to grow. Key questions…

Led by Sheridan's Associate Gabriella Playford, this session will look at the legalities of working in the states. It is aimed at AOI Agent Members.  In particular the session will look at; -Differences between US and UK contracts and the implications of this -Common pitfalls in US contracts and how to avoid them - IP considerations and the concept of…

Feeling low or feeling high, feel welcome along to our next Drink and Draw 7-9pm on the 16th of July. As ever, it will be a friendly connection for new faces and familiar ones.  Join us for some mutual support connecting through the mist ? We will be reaching out over Zoom - reserve your place here.

The AOI's AGM will run from 6pm on Monday 27 July. It is expected to last for 30 minutes. The financial year 2018 - 2019 (October 2018 - September 2019) will be considered, with the Annual Report and Accounts presented. The meeting will be chaired by David Gilbert, and there will be a chance to ask questions. All Members are…

Please note that this webinar is mainly for students, recent graduates and very new illustrators. Book now.   A successful illustration career doesn’t happen from one day to another, and definitely not spontaneously. While creating a strong body of work is important, communication and consistency are also key. This affordable webinar, especially designed for new illustrators entering the industry, will…

Make 2021 the year you finally master your books, starting with our invaluable 'Tax for UK Illustrators' webinar! 

Our Manchester illustrator meet up, hosted by Small Fry, continues with a drawing workshop & talk from illustrator and animator Dan Woodger. Get your ticket. For our first Small Fry event of the year, we have the amazing Dan Woodger hosting a talk & drawing workshop. He’ll be taking us on a journey through his process and projects, including his…

The AOI are happy to announce the next set of roundtable talks focussing on Diversity and Equality in Illustration. The first session of 2021 will be themed ‘Thinking Globally’. Chaired by AOI Board member and Illustrator Montana Forbes, we will look at the impact the extraordinary global changes have had on our work and what it means for our practice.…

Sue Gent chats with fellow illustrator Caroline Pedler about finding your creative voice & ways to make your work personal & distinctive. Book your ticket! As the world becomes a more fractured and challenging place, it’s more essential than ever that we, as illustrators, foster our individual creative voices so we can build trust, confidence and agency in being unique.…

Open to all illustrators – this is the very first Brighton illustrators Meetup! In association with the AOI. Get your ticket.     Join the Flock! Please join us for the the very first Brighton illustrators Meetup! In association with the AOI. This first event will be a FREE online Drink & Draw. An opportunity to meet new friends, catch…

Join Devon and Cornwall Illustrators for an evening of drawing based on themes of the every day. In conjunction with RAMM Lates and The AOI. RSVP now! For many of us, it’s been a year of repetition. The same rooms, the same people, the same routine. But did you find unexpected beauty in elements of the everyday? Did the process of…

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT AND OUR WAITLIST IS FULL.  Internationally renowned Illustrator Jon Klassen is best known for his best-selling Hat Box trilogy (I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat, We Found a Hat), among many other loved titles. In celebration of the release of his highly anticipated The Rock From The Sky…

Join us for an evening with the inimitable Pam Smy as she talks us through her influences and working practice. Join us for our first AOI Children’s Picture books Meet-up event - an online quarterly meet up hosted by picture book illustrator Rachel Stubbs, and author-illustrator and educator Emily Haworth-Booth. Open to those at all stages of development – from…

  Enter through a secret Zoom door to join a conversation with published children’s illustrators, Morag Hood and Helen Kellock. Book your ticket. Join host, Illo_G in exploring the professional and multifaceted world of children's publishing, from materials to the finished article. How does a children's illustrator create "happily ever after" in their artwork or career? Listen in as Morag…

Join us for our first drawing meet-up for Blend (a new name for the AOI London illustrators’ meet-up) : a Drink & Draw with special guests from The Good Ship Illustration : Katie Chappell, Helen Stephens, and Tania Willis. Get your tickets here. Bring your drawing materials — and a drink — and join us for a fun evening as…

Join BREW - the first illustrators meet-up for Leeds. RSVP for free below or via Eventbrite. All illustrators are welcome and all you need to bring is a drink, yourself and drawing materials for various prompts and fun times. This event is run by The AOI and hosted by illustrator Hannah Lock. This event is FREE, simply RSVP. Follow Brew to…

Join us for discussion and activities surrounding healthy creativity and the ways we can reshape and rethink our creative processes. Book below or via our Eventbrite. “Productivity” is a word which has taken on pretty toxic meanings over the last few years. It’s resulted in an increased pressure on creative folks, especially those who run their own businesses or are…

Small Fry bring together a panel of creatives to reveal their discoveries about the power of having a blend of practices. Small Fry bring together a panel of creatives to reveal their discoveries about the power of having a blend of practices. RSVP below or via our Eventbrite. Having a background in both illustration and graphic design is such a strength…

Join Blend and Freya Moses (AKA Freymo) and learn how to make your own foam stamps for creating your own, personal hand printed characters. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Virtual Drink & Print Workshop Join Blend and Freya Moses (AKA Freymo) and learn how to make your own foam stamps for creating your own, personal hand printed characters! If you…

The AOI are happy to announce the 2nd set of Roundtable Talks for 2021, focussing on Diversity and Equality in Illustration. Book your free spot below or via our Eventbrite. This 2nd session will be themed ‘the accessibility of illustration’. Chaired by AOI Board member and Illustrator Montana Forbes, we will look at the misconceptions of entry points into the…

PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED AND UNDERWAY.   The AOI’s Complete Guide to Freelance Illustration   Back by popular demand - we are excited to introduce the second edition of The AOI's Complete Guide to Freelance Illustration.  Harnessing our experience as the world’s leading professional body for illustrators, The AOI have a designed this 6 week interactive online…

Alt text helps search engines to locate your image, getting you in the right place for the right searches! Book below or via our Eventbrite. Alt text are the words that you enter to describe a digital image. By increasing your visibility online, great alt text can help you reach a wider audience, leading to new clients and paid commissions.…

Catalina Carvajal will share her experience of a recent commission building relationships with individuals within her community. Book your spot below or via our Eventbrite. In our recent Diversity and Equality roundtable we understood that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their practice. This session is the first of a short…

Julian Gray will share an ongoing personal project of case studies on media representations of Trans communities and personalities. Book your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. In our recent Diversity and Equality roundtable we understood that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their practice. This session is the second of…

Join us and host Dave Bain, as Yukai dives into her process of translating static illustrations into beautiful animations. Book your spot below or via our Eventbrite. Yukai Du is a Chinese-born illustrator and animation director based in the UK. She has created work for Adobe, Apple, WeTransfer, LUSH, the New Yorker, TED Talks, to name a few, and has…

Welcome to the very first meet-up for Sheffield and South Yorkshire-based Illustrators in conjunction with the AOI. RSVP below or via our Eventbrite. Open to everyone, this is your chance to get to know your working fellow illustration community better. During this introductory evening, we'll be chatting about what's happening in Sheffield, swapping advice learnt over the last (very unusual)…

The process of creating and publishing masterful picture books. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Chris Haughton is an internationally renowned Designer and Illustrator, best known for authoring award-winning children’s picture books such as A Bit Lost, Oh No George!, SHH! We have a plan, among other loved titles. In celebration of his new book, Maybe… (published by Walker Books),…

Being confident can make all the difference – from how you feel, to the jobs you get. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Confidence coach Sarah Cartwright will lead this friendly, practical session.  She will look at the building blocks of being confident – from emotional resilience and our mind set and self limiting beliefs.  She will explore how to confidently…

As we come out of an extremely challenging period for all of humanity, now may well be the perfect time to make some changes. Book below or via our Eventbrite. From tiny tweaks to major transformations, there may be a re_ or two that are perfect for you. So what is a re? reflect - reconnect - rekindle - realign…

Join BREW Leeds for a talk with illustrator Matthew Hodson on improvisation and performance in drawing, his new book & some drawing. Get your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. Matthew Hodson is an illustrator, graphic artist, poet, writer and senior lecturer at Leeds Arts University. He has previously created work for clients such as the New York Times, the…

Join Blend (London AOI Meet-up) for a virtual bird watching & drawing session with author and illustrator Matthew Cordell. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Caldecott award-winning author/illustrator Matthew Cordell will “take” us along one of his birding adventures, show us how he spots and draws owls, and incorporates this process into his practice. We’ll also get to draw along…

Join Devon & Cornwall Illustrators online as we discuss editorial commissions - how to get them & how to keep clients coming back for more. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Sue Gent chats to expert illustration commissioners Jess Hibbert (Art Director, Saga Magazine), Joe Eden (Art Editor, BBC Focus Magazine) and Hilary Clothier (Picture Editor, BBC Countryfile Magazine) about…

The AOI are happy to announce the 3rd set of Roundtable Talks for 2021, focussing on Diversity and Equality in Illustration. Book below or via our Eventbrite. This 3rd session will be themed ‘Identity as a Brand in Illustration’. Chaired by AOI Board member and Illustrator Montana Forbes, we will look at the implications of identifying as a diverse illustrator…

Please join us for our second Brighton illustrators Meetup where we’ll be talking all things longevity! Book below or via our Eventbrite. This next Brighton meet-up will be an online discussion between Brighton-based illustrators Ulrika Jarl and Steven Lenton. Together we will discuss how to create longevity within your career. Sharing in the twists and turns and ups and downs…

A friendly, honest conversation and important conversations for commissioners and illustrators alike. RSVP below or via our Eventbrite. To celebrate the launch of a new resource ‘Working with Disabled Illustrators’ the AOI have invited illustrators Megan Rhiannon, Hayley Wall and agent James Catchpole to join in conversation with Jhinuk Sarkar. We will consider why disability in illustration has so little…

Join fellow illustrators of Glasgow (and nearby) for some social drinking, exciting drawing and a bit of sharing. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Illo G host, Tita Berredo, invites you to a fun evening of drinking, drawing, and a bit of sharing. Grab a cuppa or a glass and your favourite medium for timed prompts based on mixed image…

AOI’s Membership Advisor, Sam Walker shares advice for illustrators on negotiating contracts with book publishers.   If you find contracts confusing and could do with a confidence-boosting session on negotiating with publishers, this session is for you.   AOI’s Sam Walker will break down the daunting business of contracts in to manageable chunks, clearly explaining the main clauses you’ll come…

An open invite to all London based illustrators to this FREE community catch up. RSVP below or via our Eventbrite. It’s been an especially challenging year for many so Blend would like to invite all London based illustrators along to a FREE community catch up and a reminder of the support that is out there for you, whatever your experience.…

Discover how to lay down the basic building blocks of your illustration business and set achievable goals for the future. Exclusively for graduates! Book below or via our Eventbrite.  Are you recent illustration graduate, leaving university in 2020 – 2021? The AOI have set up a new community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is…

Welcome to the first AOI meet-up for disabled illustrators, in the widest possible definition. Book below or via our Eventbrite. The Mixer is the disabled illustrators AOI meet-up. Our meet-up is open to all disabled illustrators, in the widest possible definition, and anyone else who would like to help & support those with a disability and learn more. Our first…

Join hosts Small Fry, as they explore with Nicola Mullen about what branding means and why it matters to you as an illustrator. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Event Info In this workshop, we’ll explore what branding means and why it matters. We’ll get under the skin of what you have to offer as an illustrator, so you can…

Ay Up is delighted to be hosting a live workshop with Sheffield Artist and Illustrator Tom J Newell. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Ay Up - an AOI meet-up for Sheffield illustrators - hosts an in-person workshop with Sheffield artist and illustrator Tom J Newell. Tom J Newell is renowned for his intricate hand-drawn illustrations and recognisable bold monochromatic line-work.…

AOI’s Publications and Membership Manager, Derek Brazell shares advice for illustrators on finding new clients Consistently sourcing clients is an essential ongoing area of illustration business, requiring an investment in research and the creation of artwork that will appeal to your commissioning audience. Derek will cover the important areas that will ensure you are sourcing and targeting the right clients…

We're back (finally!) with our first in-person meet-up for Bristol illustrators in quite some time... Come and meet fellow Bristol-based illustrators in the lovely surroundings of LOAF, downstairs at Bristol Beacon. We're delighted to return with an in-person Pip meet-up, after our online series of talks throughout the various lockdowns. To welcome you back we're keeping it simple with a…

Come and join us for an informal chat about the highs and lows of working within the picture book format. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Hosted by Emily Haworth-Booth and Rachel Stubbs This event welcomes illustrators at all stages of development – from those just starting out, graduates early in their career, more established illustrators and authors or anyone…

A comprehensive look at how illustrators can negotiate with clients more effectively, boosting your confidence and potential earnings. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Love the excitement of a new commission but feel awkward about the negotiations? The aim of this webinar is to give you the tools you need to negotiate with confidence! Join us for the next instalment…

Sam Pierpoint, illustrator and AOI member will share her journey towards being a sustainable (ish) illustrator. Sam brings a practical approach – recognising that we can only do what is possible in our own situations to keep things green. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Sam will pass on some resources that have really helped her and afterwards we’ll open up…

A creative workshop celebrating the launch of Laurie Rosenwald's new book 'How to Make Mistakes on Purpose'. Join us for an interactive evening with Illustrator Laurie Rosenwald, as we celebrate her new title How to Make Mistakes on Purpose, a practical guide to being creative, productive, and innovative. This event will include an interactive workshop, to help illustrators experiment in…

Receive guidance on how to take control of your career while taking care of your own health. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Are you recent illustration graduate, leaving university in 2020 – 2021? The AOI have set up a new community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is an exciting and challenging time.…

Calling all illustrators! Join us for a FREE event to learn how to licence your work, protect your copyright and negotiate with confidence.

While we're almost ready to return to in-person meet-ups for Glasgow illustrators, let's get together online, for an amazing drawing time. Book below or via our Eventbrite.   Grab a cuppa or a glass and your favourite medium for timed prompts, illustration challenges, and technique tips.   Let your imagination flow in your drawings while we have a fun chat…

Join our second meet-up for disabled illustrators, to unpick the importance of SELF LOVE and the big impact it has on creatives. Book below or via our Eventbrite. The Mixer is the disabled illustrators AOI meet-up. Our meet-up is open to all disabled illustrators, in the widest possible definition.In this meet-up, we will share our best recipes for staying full of…

An evening perfect for students, aspiring creators, professionals and anybody else with a love for illustration & visual creativity. Book below or via our Eventbrite. We’ve missed you, Norwich! We want to carry on building the wonderful creative community we started gathering in 2019 and see all your glorious faces, and we think it’s time to try doing that in-person…

Graphic designers Kristle Marshall and Zuzanna Rogatty discuss how their work influences us with their expressive and dynamic typography. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Blend is pleased to present : Type Talk, featuring the powerful work of graphic designers Kristle Marshall and Zuzanna Rogatty. You will not want to miss our virtual presentation as they share their work and…

Find out about the benefits of building a network and how to form collaborative connections with a wider community. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Are you recent illustration graduate, leaving university in 2020 – 2021? The AOI have set up a new community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is an exciting and challenging…

Small Fry host the Manchester AOI meet-up and invite A Studio Called Jane to talk about getting involved (again) in a post-pandemic world. Join Jane and Small Fry Collective for an evening of conversation and creativity followed by a studio tour with A Studio Called Jane around her shared space at SEESAW. Have lockdowns left you in low power mode?…

Please join us for our very first in person, in real life, Brighton illustrators Meetup! Book below or via our Eventbrite. Come and join the Flock! Please join us for our very first in person, in real life, Brighton illustrators Meetup! In association with the AOI This first ‘in person’ event will be a FREE Drink & Draw at the…

Join us for an evening online with illustrator and writer Charlotte Ager as she talks to us about her approach to making books. Book your ticket via Eventbrite here. This Children's Picture Book meet-up welcomes illustrators at all stages of development – from those just starting out, graduates early in their career, more established illustrators and authors or anyone with…