Illustration

Illustration is the art of using visual imagery to communicate, explain, and tell stories, and it operates across an extraordinary range of contexts, from children's books and editorial illustration to information graphics, graphic novels, packaging, concept art, and digital media. It is a discipline that rewards a distinctive visual voice, creative problem-solving, and the ability to translate ideas and narratives into compelling images. Professional illustrators work both to commission and to develop their own personal projects, and building a strong, coherent portfolio is central to a career in the field.

At the University of Gloucestershire, this three-year full-time programme develops your drawing, image-making, and visual storytelling skills alongside your critical understanding of illustration history and contemporary practice. In your second year, you will complete a one-semester placement that gives you the opportunity to explore different professional contexts and directions, helping you identify where your practice might take you. The programme combines traditional drawing and printmaking with digital tools and processes, encouraging you to develop a versatile practice that can respond to different briefs and platforms.

Entry typically requires around 120 UCAS tariff points.

Illustration graduates work as freelance illustrators, children's book artists, editorial illustrators, concept artists, graphic novel creators, surface pattern designers, and in animation, advertising, publishing, and digital media. Building professional connections through the placement and developing a strong portfolio during the programme are both central to establishing a career. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study or pursue residencies and commissions that help develop their practice.