Artists / Illustrators

An Artist or Illustrator develops ideas and works with different materials to create art, including crafts and fine art such as painting. May specialize in drawing and creating visual images, designs or pictures for books and other publications or for commercial products, or detailed drawings for scientific or medical illustrations. Creates drawings by hand and uses computers to create or develop images.

About this Career

Average Salary

£27,447

New workers start at around £14,013. Normal pay is £27,447 per year. Highly experienced workers can earn up to £49,845

Annual Openings

Job counts include both employed and self-employed persons in London, and do not distinguish between full and part-time jobs

Daily Tasks

Produces works on commission basis for clients.
Markets and sells finished work directly to customers.
Liaises with writers and publishers to produce book illustrations.
Uses artistic skills to restore damaged artworks.
Approaches managers of galleries and exhibitions in order to get finished work displayed.
Builds up composition into finished work by carving, sculpting, etching, painting, engraving, drawing, etc..
Prepares sketches, scale drawings or colour schemes.
Selects appropriate materials, medium and method.
Conceives and develops ideas and ways of working for artistic composition.

Skills Employers are looking for

Skills	Importance
Active Learning	64%
Active Listening	63%
Critical Thinking	61%
Speaking	60%
Reading Comprehension	59%
Writing	59%
Learning Strategies	58%
Mathematics	58%
Monitoring	58%
Science	34%