The best book illustrators for hire near Reading

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Patrick 5 star rating

Brighton, United Kingdom

With 30 years experience designing covers for the UK's top publishing houses, I also art direct, illustrate and do hand lettering for covers

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Historical Mysteries, and Science Fiction.

James 5 star rating

Chester, United Kingdom

Simple, but fun pencil and pen illustrator. I love middle grade, chapter books, and non-fiction for kids and adults.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Middle Grade Fantasy, Business & Management, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • James Warwood Books

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: Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Classics, Home & Garden, Weddings, Short Story, 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

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

Emma 5 star rating

London, United Kingdom

A freelance book cover designer with over 20 years of experience working across a wide variety of imprints at HarperCollins and LittleBrown.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Classics, Women's Fiction, Mystery & Crime, and Thriller & Suspense.

Work experience:

  • Little Brown
  • HarperCollins

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

Zoe 5 star rating

Dorchester, UK

Hi, my name is Zoe and I'm a freelance illustrator and designer with a passion for all things children's book related!

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

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

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Emma 5 star rating

Nottingham, UK

I'm an award-winning children's book illustrator and designer living in Nottingham, UK. I specialize in bringing children's books to life.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Education & Reference.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Hello! I can help give your book the cover that it deserves: bespoke, beautiful and bold. I've spent 30 years designing and illustrating.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Non-Fiction, Anthologies, Picture Books, and Children's.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Waverley Books
  • Department of Medical Illustration, West Glasgow Hospitals University

Award winning illustrator and designer. I love illustrating magical and strange worlds. Let's start working on making your project sparkle!

Genres: Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Fiction, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, Classics, Young Adult, Romantic Fantasy, and Romance.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Longman Group
  • Oxford University Press
  • Aberystwyth University

Experienced Illustrator and Book Designer, originally trained as an Architect. Main focus in Cities, Transport and Technology.

Genres: Architecture, Non-Fiction, Education & Reference, Geography, Humanities & Social Sciences, History, Transportation, Travel, and Technology.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

James 5 star rating

Perranporth, UK

I'm an award-winning Art Director, Book Cover Designer and Children's Illustrator who freelances for publishers all over the world.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, Nature, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Biographies & Memoirs.

Work experience:

  • Orion Publishing Group (Hachette)
  • Vintage Books (Penguin Random House)
  • Oneworld Publications
  • Head of Zeus
  • Self-employed

Book cover designer and illustrator with 15+ years’ publishing experience, creating bold, story-driven and memorable visuals.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Design, Education & Reference, Sports & Outdoors, and Travel.

Work experience:

  • Sotheby's
  • Anova Books
  • Taylor & Francis
  • Self-employed

Illustrator skilled in both traditional and digital techniques. My work is inspired by vintage illustrations.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, History, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed

Picture Book Designer & Illustrator specialist in character led stories with humour and whimsy. No AI Art. Current avail: Jan 2026

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Children’s Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Humor & Comedy, and Middle Grade.

Work experience:

  • BCU
  • Self-employed

I craft timeless illustrations that pause the noise, evoke emotion and speak directly to your book’s audience.

Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Fiction, Classics, Travel, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, and Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits.

Work experience:

  • Self-employed
  • Fig Leaf Group
  • Imagine Learning

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

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