Illustrator : Training

Students with a good honours degree may continue to postgraduate degree level before starting full-time work. Courses last from one to three years and may be followed part time while you are developing freelance work. Most postgraduate degrees include a series of studio-based modules, self-directed learning and individual research, as well as professional practice. Studying at postgraduate level may offer the opportunity to specialise in areas such as children's book illustration, sequential design and illustration, or medical illustration.

Evening classes, competitions and workshops, such as those offered by Design & Art Direction (D&AD) , are a great way of keeping portfolios up to date and varied; they can also generate extra exposure for applicants.

The Association of Illustrators (AOI)  offers one-day professional practice courses which provide practical advice and information on survival skills for new illustrators. One-to-one portfolio advice is also available for a small fee to AOI members. This can be invaluable in identifying potential clients and targeting portfolios effectively.

It is useful to consider part-time training to update skills in using computer-aided design (CAD) packages, such as Illustrator, QuarkXPress, Freehand and Adobe Photoshop. This may help generate more work. A good knowledge of digital media and web marketing skills will be helpful.
Business skills are as important as creative skills. Short self-employment courses offered at local careers services and enterprise agencies can be useful for understanding all aspects of business and marketing.