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..

Book your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. NFT’s (Non Fungible Tokens) have been increasingly in the news and offer potential new income streams to all artists, including illustrators – but many don’t know what they are. Alex Watt, Partner at Howard Kennedy LLP specialises in IP and has a growing expertise in NFT’s as this new commodity develops. This..

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...

It’s that time of year again! Learn and re-learn the basics to get your tax return ready. Book your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. Self Assessment tax returns are due in the UK on 31st January. Claire Bullen and Laura Branch from accountancy firm Alexandra Anthony will be going over the basics so you feel confident submitting your return –..

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE   Join us for an evening with illustrator and writer Al Rodin as he talks to us about his process, working intuitively and the making of his first picture book, Little Echo, (Puffin 2021). After the talk there will be plenty of time for Q&A.   Al is a writer and illustrator from London. He studied..

Learn how to maximise value from your portfolio projects and how to present them to clients in an online world. 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..

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..

Art Director Paul Coomey and Illustrator Adam Hancher from Wonderbly will provide a personal and comprehensive look into the behind-the-scenes of children’s books. Limited spaces! Book your ticket here.   They will share their journeys to work and publication, the process and people within Wonderbly, their experiences working with traditional publishers as author-illustrators, and the things they didn’t expect before..

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..

Practical insights into gender-based observations as a route to depicting diverse characters. Book below or via our Eventbrite.   From our recent Diversity and Equality roundtable talks we understood that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their illustration practice. This session is the third of a short series to explore that...

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..

A webinar for students, graduates and very new illustrators about to enter the illustration industry. Book via our Eventbrite. 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. Presented by AOI Communications Coordinator and Illustrator Marianna Madriz, we will..

Practical insights into capturing shades of skin complexions as a route to depicting diverse characters. Book below or via our Eventbrite. We understood from our Diversity and Equality roundtable talks that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their illustration practice. This session is the fourth of a short series to explore..

The next instalment of our webinar series investigates the most important contract points you need to be aware of. Open for all illustrators. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Want to be able to understand clients’ contracts and make sure they are fair to you, but not sure what they mean? Covering a variety of contract types, the aim of..

A beneficial workshop for illustrators and/or animators interested in developing compelling pitches and narratives. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Want to learn how to create compelling characters? Join Wildseed Studios' Creative Director Jesse Cleverly as he dives into what engages audiences and gets them to root for your protagonist through thick and thin. You'll hear a fresh, illuminating perspective on..

A webinar giving you the tools you need to negotiate your illustration commissions with confidence! 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 of our..

A behind the scenes into an illustration agent's role, with practical advice to decipher whether you need representation or not. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Ever wondered what exactly an Agent does? How do you know when you’re ready for an Agent or if you need one? Even then how do go about getting one?   The aim of..

In person event hosted by Camberwell College of Art, in partnership with the Association of Illustrators and HarperCollins Children’s Books. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Join us for an evening with Oliver Jeffers, discussing the art and importance of creating meaningful picture books. Oliver Jeffer's talk will be followed by a Q&A with the audience and an opportunity to..

Explore and find your brand purpose with Nicola at Brand Warrior. Book your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. In this workshop, you’ll explore and define your brand purpose. Then learn how to use it as a tool to help you: • Develop and grow • Keep you on track • Build trust with your audience • Stand out in..

Discover how to lay down the basic building blocks of your illustration business and set achievable goals for the future. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Are you recent illustration graduate, or in your final year of university? The AOI have a community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is an exciting and challenging..

An exclusive Portfolio Consultation for Illustrators with children's publisher Wonderbly. Wonderbly is delighted to host a morning of portfolio consultations in their London office. Art Director Paul Coomey, Illustrator Adam Hancher, and Book Designers Michelle Mac and Lucy Ufton will give expert advice in areas including children’s publishing, surface pattern design and editorial. Your portfolio will be shared in a..

Practical insights into capturing personality as a route to portraying diverse characters. Book below or via our Eventbrite.   We understood from our Diversity and Equality roundtable talks that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their illustration practice. This online session is the fifth of a short series to explore that...

Many new talent and emerging illustrators enter WIA with a focus on promoting their best projects to wider audience. There are many ways to use an awards entry to promote yourself, and this masterclass will look at self-promotion, including how to use participation in awards as a starting point to greater visibility and, ultimately, more commissions. Led by Sarah Morris,..

Advice on career paths, where you fit in, and finding your way to particular areas of the illustration and wider creative industry. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Are you recent illustration graduate, or in your final year of university? The AOI have a community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is an exciting..

Practical insights into capturing personality as a route to portraying diverse characters. Book below or via our Eventbrite.   We understood from our Diversity and Equality roundtable talks that some illustrators would value a space to explore how to increase the diversity depicted in their illustration practice. This online session is the fifth of a short series to explore that...

It’s that time of year again! Learn and re-learn the basics to get your tax return ready. Exclusive for AOI Members. Book your ticket below or via our Eventbrite. Self Assessment tax returns are due in the UK on 31st January. Claire Bullen and Laura Branch from accountancy firm Alexandra Anthony will be going over the basics so you feel confident..

Learn how to maximise value from your portfolio projects and how to present them to clients in an online world. Book below or via our Eventbrite. Are you recent illustration graduate, or in your final year of university? The AOI have a community events programme just for you! Leaving university and entering the illustration industry is an exciting and challenging..

Back by popular demand! Book your ticket here. 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. We will cover the important areas that will ensure you are sourcing and targeting the right clients for you, including • What to do..

If you want to build your profile and reputation as an illustrator, it’s essential to have edge in the market. Book your ticket directly via our Eventbrite! In this workshop with Nicola at Brand Warrior, you’ll peel back the layers that make up your brand, so you can begin to understand and articulate your edge to help you stand out...

In this online webinar, Therese Oertenblad from Small Business Collaborative will teach you the 4 steps you need to take to start to wholesale without feeling overwhelmed. Book via our Eventbrite   Wholesale is a great way to get more eyes on your brand and grow your business. This is even more important if your product range is mainly paper-based, (i.e cards,  giftwrap..