Looking for a professional book illustrator?

What is book illustration?

Book illustration is the bridge between your words and your readers' imaginations. A great illustration doesn't just depict what's on the page: it brings your text to life, elevates the impact of your scene or idea, and shapes just how a reader feels each time they turn the page. 

You can depend on a good book illustration to capture the heart of your scene, character, or setting. It'll give vivid form to the protagonist you've always pictured in your mind's eye, and bring color to the atmosphere you've built all chapter towards. It can charm if you're writing fiction — or inform if you're writing nonfiction. Done right, it's never just decoration. It's an equal partner alongside the text that sweeps your reader off the page and into your world.

Who needs book illustrations?

Book illustrations are best suited to children’s literature, nonfiction works, and some fantasy or crime novels. Each category of book uses illustrations in a different way.

• Picture books: Illustrations are an absolute must. Often appearing as full-page spreads with overlaid text, they are a child’s constant companion in a book and aid their comprehension.
• Middle grade books: Illustrations typically appear in the form of “spot art” scattered throughout the story to keep young readers engaged and help them visualize the characters and setting.
• YA and adult fiction: Illustrations are more optional. You’re most likely to see illustrated maps that help readers understand how different parts of the setting or story relate to each other, especially in fantasy and murder mystery novels. You sometimes also come across black-and-white chapter headings, which add a unique layer of sophistication. 
• Nonfiction: Illustrations often take the form of diagrams, which explain difficult concepts or reiterate key takeaways in a more memorable form. 

You can see examples of book illustrations by Reedsy designers in each category below.

Are you looking for information on illustrated book covers?

Head to our book cover design page instead.

What makes a good book illustrator?

Some authors ask us whether they can illustrate their own book. We advise against it — because book illustration requires so much more than decent drawing skills.

A good book illustrator will have an exceptional ability to bring a story to life on paper, as well as: 

• A sophisticated grasp of visual storytelling and how images interact with text
• A deep familiarity with current genre conventions and visual trends
• The ability to make your book feel both familiar enough to attract readers and distinctive enough to stand out
• The experience to understand and adapt to your ideas

All of the illustrators on Reedsy have demonstrated these qualities over a career of 5+ years.

Hire a professional

Browse more profiles on Reedsy

Available

Rachel R.

I'm an illustrator with 10 years of experience as a freelancer in the publishing space. Whatever your needs, I'm here to help!

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Available

Luke F.

Professional Illustrator and concept artist from Ireland with a passion for Fantasy, Horror and all things otherworldly.

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Available

Evelyn P.

Certified Medical Illustrator trained in scientific illustration with experience at Macmillian Learning and Pearson Education

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Here’s what working with a professional illustrator looks like in practice. Andrew K. Johnston’s illustrator, whom he found on Reedsy, didn’t just embrace his vision for his first chapter book: he elevated it beyond Johnston’s wildest dreams. “It was amazing how he paid attention to the nuances of my story, translating them into beautiful and emotionally resonant illustrations.”

You can read more about our authors’ experiences of hiring a book illustrator below:

• Andrew K. Johnston: How Self-Publishing Helped Me Break into the Children’s Book Market
• Sarah Sommer: How a Reedsy Illustrator Brought My Children’s Book to Life
• Mary Natale: How Self-Publishing Allowed Me to Find the Perfect Illustrator
• Carly Mannon: Simple and Artistic: Creating a Timeless Cover Illustration

Find out more

How to Illustrate a Spellbinding Children’s Book
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How much does book illustration cost?

Book illustration services can cost anywhere from $400 to $10,000, depending on the scope, genre, and complexity of the artwork. 

On Reedsy, the median quote of a professionally illustrated book cover ranges from $470 for picture books to $910 for fantasy books.

A fully illustrated book, as you’d expect, is more expensive. A single-page illustration is generally priced at $60–$200, while a two-page spread can come out to $100–$400. That means that the interior of a 30-page children’s book can total $1,500–$6,000. Of course, the exact price depends on the intricacy of the illustrations and on the illustrator’s experience — a relative newcomer will typically be less expensive than a longtime veteran of the industry. 

If you have a limited budget for your illustrations, consider working with an up-and-coming illustrator on Reedsy who offers more accessible rates.

Find out more

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How to find the right illustrator for your book

When you hire a book illustrator on Reedsy, you can rest assured about quality: we vet all of our freelancers manually and only accept the top 3% of applicants.

That said, not every high-quality illustrator will be a good fit for every project. We recommend following these tips to find an illustrator who’s right for your book on our marketplace:

1. Narrow your search by genre. A book cover is one of the most powerful signals of genre a reader will encounter. An illustrator who is an expert in your genre will be able to strike the right balance between what readers expect to see and the unique design elements that will characterize your book.
2. Look for an illustration style that speaks to you. Every artist has a unique illustration style. On Reedsy, you can browse professionals’ portfolios to get a sense of which drawing styles work with your vision.
3. Know what type(s) of illustration you’re looking for. When you request a quote from illustrators whose style you like, clearly establish the scope of the project. Are you only looking for interior illustrations, or do you need an illustrated cover as well? If you need multiple illustrations, how many? How detailed would you like them to be? This will help illustrators figure out if they’re right for you and enable them to send an accurate quote.
4. Double-check how many revisions are included. All our illustrators welcome feedback on their drafts. However, some freelancers have specific policies on when and how often you can ask for revisions, so it’s worth checking this in advance.
5. Ask about freelancers’ communication style. Some illustrators like to send regular updates, while others may prefer to get in touch as and when they need to. Make sure you’re on the same page about how often you will communicate and through which medium(s).
6. Confirm that the illustrator can work to your deadline. Reedsy’s illustrators are in high demand and may be booked up months in advance. If you already have a launch date in mind, communicate this to professionals as part of your request — and remember to leave time to prepare the final files and upload to your distribution platform.

Find out more

How to Find an Illustrator to Bring Your Children’s Book to Life
Reedsy Selection Criteria

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