What You Know: Illustration Top Tips

Siobhan Harrison is a U.K. based Illustrator who has Illustrated over twenty five children's book titles. Siobhan began Illustrating children's books in 2000 when she illustrated several nursery rhyme books for Ladybird Books.

More recently she has been developing a stationery brand from her original watercolour artwork under Siobhan at April Rose. Siobhan is currently partnered with several companies in a Licensing capacity, partners include Immediate Media Magazines amongst others.

Recent projects include bespoke merchandising design for Heritage buildings, commissioned art work for World Cities day in Shanghai and Liverpool which was exhibited at Shanghai Expo 2018. She was also British Craft Award Winner in 2015 and was shortlisted for Gift of The Year in 2020.

Siobhan took some time out to provide insight into her career and give her Top Tips on illustration for Who You Know, read on for more for her advice.

Being an illustrator has given me the opportunity to work with many fantastic companies. I have been lucky enough to travel to Japan to demonstrate artwork & travel to Shanghai to collaborate on a World Cities project with artists and Illustrators from Shanghai and the U.K. If you've ever thought of being an illustrator here are my top tips.

1. DRAW

Draw, start drawing and don't stop. Draw everything and anything you can. Look more than you draw. Look and look again. Try different mediums until you find something that works for you. Try drawing in pen and ink, watercolour, pencil, charcoal, graphite pencil, pastels, find something you like then keep going. Notice the details. Build up a portfolio of work. Get some art training if you can, an Art Foundation is a good place to start. Once you have done an Art Foundation apply for a Degree course, this will give you the time to develop your art practice. If you can't get some training then check out 'how to' videos on YouTube. Get a group of friends and all draw together, even if it's online. Try to draw something every day. Entering competitions is a good way of setting yourself a deadline.

2. Research

Research is key. Research your area, go along to talks held by professionals in your chosen area and ask the questions you want to know. If you want to get into illustrating for children's books and you've just graduated, a good place to start is the Children's Writers' & Artists Yearbook, you will find a list of publishers here. Make sure you research each publisher you apply to, so that your artwork fits with their house style. Visit Exhibitions and Trade Shows when you can, to get an idea of what’s out there in the current market. Use your local bookshops and libraries to see what’s popular or niche. Finding your own niche is a good way to move your artwork forward. Keep a visual library on Pinterest of things that inspire you. Once your artwork portfolio is really professional put your artwork on a digital platform or artwork directory such as The Association of Illustrators or if its children’s books, Children's Illustrators.

3. Develop your own style

Developing your own artwork style comes with practice and evolves gradually. Giving yourself the time to evolve your own style and artwork practice is key. Stick to what you enjoy, if you enjoy doing it, others will look at it and see your passion, allowing you to connect to them through your artwork. Start with traditional methods and then move to digital or combine the two. Research other Illustrators online. Join a local group of artists or illustrators and share or swap information, especially on payment terms and contracts. You could even set your own projects and collaborate with an exhibition.

4. Work for or with other people

Work in-house for a company if you get the chance. Research the companies you like the look of and adapt your portfolio to have some elements of what they specialise in. Working for someone else is a quicker way of gaining first hand experience than working for yourself. If you want to work for yourself, get some experience first. If you work in-house for a company you have the chance to see all the artwork that comes through the door or goes to print, this will give you a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. Plus you will get essential hands on experience that would take longer to accumulate should you choose to work for yourself. You will be in a better position this way and have a lot of the information you need when you do come to set up your own business. You will also get first hand feedback on your own illustration/design work. Connect with companies in other countries via social media, then send them a mail-out.

5. Promote and brand your artwork

Promote and brand your artwork, make it look unique. Design your own logo, make sure it is legible when printed small, or in black and white. Do mail-outs, everyone likes a freebie, make your mail-outs stand out. Try hand printing them. It sounds obvious but when you do a mail-out find the correct person to send to. Do the leg work first , make a phone call and find out who it is that’s in charge of the department you want to get your artwork printed in. Don’t send it to a general address, it will end up in the slush pile. Even if you get hundreds of rejections, it only takes one person to say yes. Listen to the feedback and rework your idea with the feedback in mind."Most so called failures are only temporary defeats" Napoleon Hill.

Siobhan's product ranges are available for wholesale, you can check out more of her work at siobhanataprilrose.com & follow her Instagram @siobhanataprilrose