Work with others, collaborate or form a collective. Pool your skills for interesting results.

If you want to develop your own ap: source a good developer that suits the project’s needs; make sure you have a written contract protecting your creative ideas and images; retain overall creative control.

Drawing from life will ensure that the immediacy and vibrancy of the subject matter translates in to your work.

Never underestimate the importance of sketchbooks and experimentation.

Humour can be such a strong aspect of illustration – utilise it to get your work seen and remembered.

Make sure your business card or self promotional postcard best reflects your work and is taken from one of your portfolio pieces.

Start and finish your portfolio with your strongest and most striking pieces.

Advice from The Panel of The Enquiry Desk in Session event at Pick Me Up Somerset House 2012

The Enquiry Desk | Guest Industry Professionals

With thanks to the expert guest panelists: Greg Burne (Big Active), Sean Garrehy (Little,Brown Publishing), David Frost (All City Media), Mills + Sinx (UsTwo), Donna Payne (Faber&Faber), Matt Blease (Liberty), Chris Shamwana (Ghost Design), Si Scott (Illustrator), Fraser Lyness (The Times), Chris Clarke (The Times), Charlotte Henson (ASOS), Sarah Thomson (Fallon), Tom Meredith (Elle)

Pictured above: Tom Meredith, Sarah Thomson, Josie Sullens, Zara Wood

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See all WOWs – Words of Wisdom HERE