Developing children's book illustration
This course will help develop your burgeoning children’s book illustration practice by enabling you to more deeply explore the practical skills and conceptual skills integral to the discipline. You will also begin to consider which of the many genres of children's book illustration your developing personal style might lend itself to; for example, board-books, picture books, or non-fiction for older children, to name a few.
Choose a start date
- Course Code: VZ120
- Dates: 20/02/25 - 27/03/25
- Time: 14:00 - 17:00
- Taught: Thu, Daytime
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Keeley Street
- Tutor: Tim Ellis
Course Code: VZ120
Choose a start date
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course is an intermediate course, for learners to develop their practical and conceptual (thinking) skills integral to the discipline of Children’s Book Illustration. You will also delve deeper into the key historical and contemporary movements and styles which have shaped its evolution, and begin to identify which of them you feel could help shape your practice.
What will we cover?
Intermediate level teaching of:
• The key elements of children’s book illustration: image-creation and character development, visual sequencing and pacing, interplay of image-and-text
• A variety of dry and wet media; pencils, paints, collage, etc.
• Researching, developing and realising simple visual sequences in response to a brief
• The different applications of children’s book illustration, from board-books to illustrated fiction
• The key movements and styles within the subject area
• Identifying which of the above are most relevant to your developing practice.
• Introduction to scanning your illustrations and working digitally.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Create a visual sequence to communicate more complex information/narratives.¿
• Research, develop and realise more complex illustrations in response to a brief.¿
• Discuss the different applications of illustration and the key movements and styles.¿
• Identify which of the above are most relevant to your developing practice.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for intermediate learners, e.g. those who have completed a beginners’ course in children’s book illustration, or have equivalent knowledge and experience.
English-language competency is required: you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You may need to take short written notes for your own use and take part in group discussions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
- Presentations
- Demonstrations
- Practical work
- Individual and group tutoring
- Group discussion
Additional/extension activities may be set for you to complete at home or outside of the course hours. Completion of additional tasks is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you.
This course is supported by Google Classroom as a Virtual Learning Environment. When you log on you will be able to access course material, presentations, and handouts etc. and may be asked to complete learner progress records. You can find help via the student help centre on the City Lit website.
Please note it is important that you sign up and log in to your course Google classroom prior to the first session. Joining detail will be sent to you via email (check your junk/spam folder).
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
At City Lit, access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. We advise you to bring a A5/A4 sketchbook for the recording of ideas and an A3 folder and/or a USB drive, to transport work to and from City Lit. Additional materials required as part of the course will be discussed by your tutor if required.
Need art supplies? Our partner London Graphic Centre has everything you need from pencils to printing services, at 15% off.
To get 15% LGC discount, you will need to show proof/ confirmation of enrolment and being a student at City Lit. You can apply in-store or by simply emailing info@londongraphics.co.uk with a scan or photo of relevant confirmation. Student discount does not apply to products that are already discounted or on offer. More information can be found here- https://www.londongraphics.co.uk/student-discounts/.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
We recommend looking at our Illustration Studio course as a next step in your progression. In addition, we offer a range of courses and specialist workshops within graphic design, illustration, children’s book illustration and graphic novels.
You may wish to consider applying to one of our Advanced Programmes in Media and Communications or a related subject: https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design/advanced-practice.
Tim is passionate about illustration, books and storytelling and loves teaching at City Lit. He runs a number of courses in children’s book illustration and illustration. He’s thrilled that a some of his past students from his courses have gone on to gain recognition in the highly esteemed Macmillan Prize competition, including a second place win for Harriet Lynas in 2016. Tim’s past students have also gone on to get artists agents (United Agents, Bright Agency, Plum Pudding, Advocate) and have had picture books, early readers and non-fiction books published (Nosy Crow, Andersen Press, Oxford University Press, Hodder Children's Books, John Lewis, Caterpillar Books, Child’s Play Library, Orangutang Books, Sky Pony Press, New Frontier Publishing and Little Simon). Tim studied illustration at Anglia Ruskin University and Central Saint Martins. Since graduating, Tim been working as an illustrator and teaching, with commissions across editorial, design and advertising. Select clients include The Guardian, The Financial Times, Penguin Books, Make a Wish Foundation, BBC, BT, Orange Mobile, and Honda. Tim’s illustrated debut novel Harklights will be published by Usborne Books this autumn.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.