The Art of Breaking In: Real Talk with Early Career Illustrators – Part 2

With the launch of our new U25 membership, we are excited to spotlight six AOI Members aged 25 and under.

We asked them some questions to understand their path into illustration, their experience navigating the industry to date and their advice for those treading a similar path.

In the second part of this feature, we find out how they have found AOI Membership helpful, what goals they are working towards, and what advice they wish they had known when first getting started (and that they’d love to share with others).

Catch up with Part 1 to meet the illustrators.

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We asked how AOI Membership has been of help to these six illustrators as they have started out in their career.

Here, they highlight some of the most valuable benefits for them.

For many of the illustrators, the information shared in Resources has been especially helpful. Phoebe says: “I have found the resources available on the AOI website incredibly useful, especially when I first started working on professional commissions. The pricing calculator and commission contract template helped me in particular.” 

Genevieve added: “My AOI membership has been crucial in setting up my career, I wouldn’t have managed to take on commissions and projects without the help and advice of the AOI, not only when negotiating and writing contracts, but also when I have had questions about self-promotion advice and navigating my career.” Lauren agrees, finding the resources and phone support helpful:

Becoming a member of the AOI has been very beneficial and I’ve availed of their really helpful resources for Illustrators. Their phone support has helped guide me with any queries I’ve had when completing freelance jobs and I would recommend becoming a member.

Lauren Kelso

The Helpdesk and Contract Review Service were also a huge help, Shri explains: “I recently had a publisher contact me about publishing one of my books and I needed a little help from the AOI with going through the contracts. They were super helpful and as it turned out there were quite a few red flags in the contract that I didn’t pick up on.” 

For Tosin, the information on offer has been especially helpful as a self-taught artist, they say: “I feel like the AOI has democratised a lot of knowledge and information that goes largely unlearned by self-taught artists like myself”. 

They have also really enjoyed the creative practise courses offered as part of our Inside Illustration series, commenting: “The illustration courses gives you access to experts in your field and provides you with briefs that are incredibly similar to ones you’d get from clients, providing a kind of work experience for the otherwise uninitiated.”

Plus for Ben, it’s helpful to be part of an organisation that has its members back: “I’ve found the support from AOI really helpful and it feels as though they really want to support and uplift their members which is a really lovely thing to see.”

Looking ahead to the future, we wanted to know what’s on the horizon for each of these illustrators.

What goals are they excited to work towards?

Phoebe’s immediate focus is on her apprenticeship: “I plan to work part-time as a tattoo artist alongside my other illustration work and the skill takes a lot of patience and effort to learn, so I am excited to grow my confidence with a tattoo machine.” Alongside that she has a mix of short-term and long-term goals for her illustration career: “A more long term goal of mine is to work on a children’s book, and in the meantime other narrative projects such as comics and zines”.

Shri similarly is excited by publishing work: “I would love to submit my pitch to Fieldmouse Press’s open call this month (I’m working on the pitch now so fingers crossed I get it done in time). About bigger ambitions, I’d just love to create more stories for people to read and connect with.” 

Genevieve is excited about new projects both in terms of the type of brief, and different themes she’d love to explore: “I would love to work on more picture books, I have so many ideas I’m always working on and I can’t wait to be able to give them to my own children to read one day! I would also love to have my work featured on an advent calendar – I love Christmas so working with brands on Christmas products would be a dream.”

Lauren has some exciting projects coming up in 2025, which she can’t share more about just yet, but you can follow her on Instagram for updates: @laurenkelsoillustrator (find website and social links for all the illustrators at the end of the article). Until then, she says: “I’m looking forward to completing more freelance client jobs and continuing to develop in my career as an Illustrator.” 

Ben is excited about continuing to build his practise, including exhibitions, events, and creating more ceramics. In 2024, he launched the trans masc erotic magazine STRAP, curated from submissions of work from trans artists around the globe, and is looking forward to “continuing to make STRAP Magazine an annual publication to highlight even more amazing trans artists”. Plus, he has big ambitions for the long-term too: “My big dream for the future will always be to open my own studio space to share with a small group of queer creatives, with a little shop front and an area to host workshops and events… that’s the big dream!”

Tosin is exploring a mix of career ambitions and personal development goals. They say: “It might sound boring, but a short-term goal is to maintain my consistency, month to month – when it comes to work/life balance, which can be difficult as a self-employed illustrator – even more so when you really enjoy making art so you reach for it when you should be resting.” They also want to prioritise engaging more with their community:

Being able to connect with a community of artists and people who enjoy the work I make is a short-term goal. Being super online means that sometimes it can be a bit too remote, so actually engaging with my community on a regular basis is certainly something I want to improve at.

Tosin Akinkunmi

And long-term, the big ambition is to be a graphic novelist. On this, they say “I’m finally at a place in my career where I have the skills and know-how to begin laying the paving stones towards this big goal so I’m really hopeful I can make it happen!”

Finally, we asked if there is any information they know now, which they wish they had known when first getting started.

Here they share their insights and advice for those treading a similar path.

Genevieve agrees, she says: “Very early on in my career, and at uni, I worried too much about having a ‘style’, when actually I came to realise that your style is just how you draw and that comes out in your work naturally, and shouldn’t be forced. Style always evolves and can change a lot over the course of a career, so I would tell myself to let go of worrying about a ‘style’, and I would pass that advice onto anyone starting out, too.”

Sometimes it is the small sketches and the little ideas you’ve done that can blossom into something and spark someone’s interest, and this happened to me recently, so never underestimate your rough sketches and little ideas!

Genevieve Aspinall

Create for yourself, not for others or the algorithm: 

Tosin says: “It’s important to pace yourself. It’s not a race! Whilst I do think social media is important for artists trying to establish themselves and create a community, it’s important to remember to create for yourself and not the algorithm. Social media can be a hostile place sometimes, but if you’re comparing yourself to other artists all the time then it can be discouraging to engage with it further.”

Look after yourself and your mental health: 

Tosin adds: “My advice is to prioritise your health! Work is important, but if you’re a digital artist – please take breaks to rest your eyes and stretch your body. You won’t be able to create the work you want to if your body is too sore to make it happen!”.

Ben’s advice also centres around the importance of taking breaks, something he found difficult when first starting out. He is now working to establish a healthier work-life balance.

The worst they can say is ‘no’: 

Shri shares some important advice about putting yourself out there, a key part of building your career as a freelance illustrator: “Just remember the worst they can say is ‘no’ or ignore you. There have been quite a few times I’ve applied to things thinking ‘There’s no way they’ll get back to me’ (and they did!). As long as you’ve done your research and your work fits – then there’s nothing to lose!”

Enjoy the journey!

I took two years out of my BA course and that definitely helped me jump straight into work when I graduated; that extra time before you put pressure on your art to pay the bills is very valuable and should be appreciated (even if you aren’t creating the whole time).

Phoebe Dee

Finally, Lauren reminds us of the importance of all enjoying the journey we are on, and plotting our own path. She says: “I think being confident, proactive and enjoying the process is really important. Building a network around you, availing of support, thinking outside the box and searching for new opportunities will stand you in good stead too. Enjoy the journey!”

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Thanks to Phoebe, Ben, Tosin, Shri, Genevieve and Lauren for their contributions.

Keep up to date with their work at the links below.

Phoebe Dee 

Website | phoebedee.com/illustration

Instagram | phoebe.illustration

Ben Saunders 

Website | www.bensaundersart.co.uk 

Instagram | bensaunders.art

Tosin Akinkunmi 

Website | tourdemoon.com/tosin-akinkunmi

Instagram | artbytosin

Shri Gunasekara 

Website | www.smileyshri.uk

Instagram | smileyshri_

Genevieve Aspinall 

Website | genevieveaspinall.com

Instagram | genevieveillustration

Lauren Kelso

Website | laurenkelso.uk

Instagram | laurenkelsoillustrator

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Are you 25 or under? Meet us half way with our new U25 Membership, getting access to our direct support in your illustration career at 50% off the Illustrator Membership price.

Take advantage and join today. Offer until 19th May 2025.

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