17+ Best Young Adult Book Illustrators for Hire in the United States

Joel

Nashville, TN, USA

Middle Grade Book Cover and children's illustrator with a decade of experience specializing in illustrated covers, book design, and more!

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Picture Books, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children’s Non-Fiction, and Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Awana
Source of Light
Wingfeather SAGA (Shining Isle Productions)

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Kel

Atlanta, GA, USA

I’m an Illustrator and Concept Designer ready to collaborate, I've done work with comics and various freelance projects for roughly 5 years.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Coming of Age, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

T. Y Nereim Comics
Self-employed
Celebritees

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Candice

Iowa City, IA, United States

Award-winning fantasy illustrator. 100% hand-made with no generative AI. Providing cover design, typography, marketing assets, and more!

Genres: Magical Realism, Literary Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, and Middle Grade Fantasy.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Bovard Studio, Inc.

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Jillian

Canton, CT, USA

Digital illustrator specializing in hand lettering, patterns, and bright, bold, colorful designs

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, LGBTQ Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Romance, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Home & Garden, Non-Fiction, and Nature.

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Arthur

Fargo, ND, USA

Freelance artist/illustrator with a love of all things fantasy and sci-fi.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Urban Fantasy, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction, Time Travel, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Laura

Broadlands, VA, USA

I'm a digital fantasy illustrator. I specialize in painting scenes of magic and wonder. Middle Grade covers are my main focus. No AI used!

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Action & Adventure, Picture Books, and Gaming & LitRPG.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Rafael

Mesa, AZ, USA

I am a professional designer, art director, and illustrator who loves books—working with publishers in Europe, USA, Asia, and indie authors.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Humor & Comedy, Mystery & Crime, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Epic Fantasy, and Fantasy.

Work experience:

Coverkitchen

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Melissa

Maynardville, TN, USA

Award-winning cover designer and interior formatter with over ten years experience. Specializing in Fantasy and typography based designs.

Genres: Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Thriller & Suspense, Middle Grade Fantasy, Children's, Middle Grade, and New Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Josh

Columbus, OH, USA

Illustrator for MG and YA publishing with a passion for captivating characters and emotionally driven narrative storytelling.

Genres: Middle Grade, Children's, Fiction, Action & Adventure, Fantasy, Short Story, Young Adult, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Non-Fiction, and Children’s Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Elevate Pictures
Pawn Creative
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Llewellyn Publishing

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Priscilla

Austin, TX, USA

Freelance illustrator who specializes in characters, portraiture, and visual narrative.

Genres: Action & Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, LGBTQ Fiction, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Caitlin B.

Manitou Springs, CO, USA

Illustrator/designer with a love of color, texture & hand-lettering. Characters. Cover design + picture books. Collaboration + communication

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult, Women's Fiction, Science Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Romance, and Romance.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Charles

Seattle, WA, USA

Illustrator - Charlie believes in a future where somehow, against all odds, we make it. Tell me a story, let’s bring it to life. 🚫No AI🚫

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Gaming & LitRPG, LGBTQ Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult Fantasy, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Coyote & Crow

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Nathan

Omaha, NE, USA

I am an illustrator specializing in digital inking. I create chapter headings, maps, character sketches and author merchandise.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Children's, Gaming & LitRPG, Cozy Mysteries, Mystery & Crime, and Science Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Rachel

Mesquite, NV, USA

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

Genres: Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Gaming & LitRPG, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Paranormal Romance, New Adult, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Self-employed
King Show Games

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Roberta

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Italian illustrator in love with pencil & watercolors. HarperCollins, Newton Compton, Saatchi&Saatchi, Mondadori, Mandarina Duck.

Genres: Literary Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, New Adult, Young Adult, Fashion & Textiles, Coming of Age, Chick Lit, and Women's Fiction.

Work experience:

Mondadori S.p.A.
Univers Poche / Pocket Jeunesse
Syn Creativi e Tecnici
Skyscanner
Self-employed

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Caitlin

New York, NY, USA

Hello! I'm an illustrator, designer, and author with 20+ years of publishing experience, including self-publishing.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Home & Garden, Non-Fiction, Health & Wellbeing, and DIY & Crafts.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Anthony

Washingtonville, NY, USA

15+ yrs in cover design—corporate & freelance. Specializing in mass-market, indie, adult & YA covers. I'd love to help create yours.

Genres: Mystery & Crime, Fiction, Thriller & Suspense, Action & Adventure, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Young Adult, True Crime, Non-Fiction, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience: