The best book illustrators for hire in the United Kingdom

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Cassia 5 star rating

England, United Kingdom

I have a passion for innovative and fun design, cooking and nature, which is probably why those are my favourite genres.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, DIY & Crafts, Nature, Home & Garden, Inspirational, and Middle Grade.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Chamberlain Dunn
  • The Detective Agency

Vanessa 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

🟡 Experienced book designer available for book cover and interior book design/typesetting, specialised in Self Publishing. 🟡

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Christian Non-Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Poetry, Thriller & Suspense, Humor & Comedy, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Sarah 5 star rating

England, United Kingdom

Specialist children's book illustrator and designer, creating beautiful and engaging books and content.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, and Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Pearson Education
  • John Brown Media
  • Redan Publishing

Louise 5 star rating

England, United Kingdom

Hello, I am an Illustrator living & working in Somerset. My style is honest, inviting & brings the everyday to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Historical Fiction, Classics, Home & Garden, Weddings, Short Story, Middle Grade, and Fashion & Textiles.

Work experience:

  • Ernest Journal - Tina Smith, Jo Keeling
  • Author Andrew Sutton
  • The Hunterian Museum & Glasgow University
  • Curator of 'Museum of memory', Kate McStraw,
  • Tina Smith, Dan Linstead -Immediate Media
  • Pretty Nostalgic
  • Another Escape
  • Upper Hand Press. (William Cass, Author & Ann Starr, Publisher)
  • Marbella Club Hotel & Smokes Creative

Jenny 5 star rating

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I'm an experienced book designer and illustrator. I specialise in all fiction and non-fiction genres from kids books to cook books and more!

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Health & Wellbeing, Home & Garden, Art, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

  • Penguin Random House New Zealand
  • Penguin Books New Zealand
  • Book Design Ltd (now Smartwork Creative)
  • Pearson Education New Zealand
  • Self-employed

Peter 5 star rating

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Publishing professional with over ten years' experience, specialising in cover design and layout for non-fiction and sport.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, and Sports & Outdoors.

Work experience:

  • Birlinn Ltd, Arena Sport, Polygon
  • Self-employed

Jason 5 star rating

Hassocks, United Kingdom

Book jacket design designer with over twenty years experience in the industry.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Business & Management, Non-Fiction, Political Science & Current Affairs, Humanities & Social Sciences, Philosophy, Mystery & Crime, Thriller & Suspense, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Britt 5 star rating

Orkney, Scotland, United Kingdom

Scottish Artist and Illustrator. Studied Visual Communications at NCAD Dublin, graduated 2005. Creative freelance with flair and good cheer.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Nature, Short Story, Calendars, Middle Grade, and Agriculture.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • BBC Radio Orkney

Edward 5 star rating

Brighton, United Kingdom

Graphic Design professional with over 20 years experience specialising in cover design and illustration.

Genres: Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Business & Management, Nature, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Fantasy, and Literary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Warner Music
  • Penguin Books UK
  • Self-employed

Nick 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

I am a book cover designer with 20 years experience. I have designed everything from thrillers, crime books and illustrated womens fiction.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • HarperCollins

Illustrator and designer with many years of experience, specializing in the science-fiction and fantasy genres.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Action & Adventure, and Contemporary Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

I create traditional and digital illustrations usually mixing realism and abstract elements, as a way to make people feel seen and inspired.

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, and Fashion & Textiles.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Children’s books are my passion! I love to bring stories to life with whimsical, joyful watercolour-based art. Communication+collaboration!

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Chick Lit, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Little Steps
  • Clavis Publishing
  • Catch a Leaf

My name's Sophie, I'm a conceptual Illustrator specialising in Health, Science and well-being.

Genres: Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Comics Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Health & Wellbeing, Psychology, Humanities & Social Sciences, LGBTQ Non-Fiction, Life Sciences, and Math & Science.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

With over 20 years as a designer I can create for you an eye catching and professional book cover design that will get your book noticed.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Historical Fiction, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Ghost Design
  • Allcity Media
  • Self-employed
  • Various

Laura 5 star rating

Bath, United Kingdom

I am an award-winning freelance Senior Book Designer, Illustrator and Artist with 28 years experience in the Publishing industry.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Nature, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Anthologies, Music, Humanities & Social Sciences, Short Story, Education & Reference, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

  • Usborne Publishing, Wolverhampton
  • Usborne Publishing, London
  • Self-employed

Designer, typesetter and illustrator with excellent typographic skills and a quirky drawing style.

Genres: Math & Science, Non-Fiction, Entertainment, Transportation, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • The Folio Society
  • Veloce Publishing
  • Clarity Media

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Hire the best book illustrators in the UK

You’ve done the hard work of getting a story on paper. Now let us help you find the perfect illustrator to bring your words to life.

In many genres, particularly those for a younger audience, the words and the pictures will become intertwined. Both should complement the other perfectly. If you think back to your most beloved children’s books, chances are that you still vividly remember the art that brought the story to life in front of your very eyes. So whether you’re publishing a children’s book or a technical piece of writing, your story deserves the illustrations that can illuminate it and take it to the next level.

But how can you find the perfect illustrator for your story? It’s probably not a surprise that talented illustrators are highly in-demand. But it’s not enough to simply be gifted. The ideal illustrator should have previously worked in your genre and have years of experience in the industry. More importantly, their style of illustration must match with your own unique voice.

If you’re struggling to find the right book illustrator to fit this profile, Reedsy can step in. Our book illustrators have worked for the biggest publishers and the most prestigious illustration agencies in the UK. We rigorously vet and accept only the top 3% of talent in the industry to ensure that you’re seeing the best freelancers available. What’s more, our platform lets you browse each illustrator’s individual gallery, so that you can get a feel for their illustration style before you commit to a collaboration. So what are you waiting for? Simply sign up for a free Reedsy account today to meet the perfect book illustrator for hire in the UK who can breathe life into your story.

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