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

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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Annemieke

Seattle, WA, United States

Hi! I'm a cover designer with 10 years of experience, specializing in YA fiction. Clients include HarperCollins and Galison/Mudpuppy.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Architecture, Non-Fiction, Art, Humanities & Social Sciences, Design, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, and Self-Help & Self-Improvement.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Marci

New York, NY, USA

I have been working in the children’s publishing industry as an Art Director for over twenty years.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Middle Grade, Children's, Middle Grade Fantasy, Picture Books, Chick Lit, Women's Fiction, Comics & Graphic Novels, and Romance.

Work experience:

Disney Publishing Worldwide
Self-employed

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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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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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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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Clint

Baton Rouge, LA, USA

Art director and designer since 2007 creating bold, story-driven visuals with a strong background in the music industry.

Genres: Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Mystery & Crime, Young Adult, Dark Romance, Romance, True Crime, Non-Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Political Science & Current Affairs, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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Daniel

Atlanta, GA, USA

Illustrator who creates thoughtfully designed artwork for covers, interiors, and other needs for a variety of genres. Let's talk!

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Classics, Action & Adventure, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller & Suspense, and Young Adult.

Work experience:

Kason Ind.
Self-employed

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Kelly

Wilmington, DE, United States

I love how good design can complete a writer's vision and make it engaging. Fantasy, thrillers, historical and fiction really get me going.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Biographies & Memoirs, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Poetry, Self-Help & Self-Improvement, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult Fantasy, Young Adult, and New Adult.

Work experience:

Four Dog Creative
Delaware Today
Delaware Bride
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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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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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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Taylor

Seattle, WA, USA

Always open to hearing about new projects! I illustrate children's books and design covers, and I love to work in all genres.

Genres: Picture Books, Children's, Fiction, Middle Grade, Design, Non-Fiction, Short Story, Young Adult, Education & Reference, and LGBTQ Non-Fiction.

Work experience:

Self-employed
House Special

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Anthony

Centerton, AR, USA

Self-taught comic illustrator with a sharp sense of humor and a bold manga-inspired style, dynamic action and brutal details.

Genres: Comics & Graphic Novels, Fiction, Horror, Thriller & Suspense, Young Adult, Fantasy, Comics Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction, Art, and Humanities & Social Sciences.

Work experience:

Self-employed
Bentkey Ventures LLC
Spinrack

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Michelle

University Park, MD, USA

I am an illustrator and animator specializing in YA and Middle Grade book cover illustration.

Genres: Humor & Comedy, Fiction, Women's Fiction, Young Adult, Short Story, Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Anthologies, Business & Management, Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits, Education & Reference, and Parenting & Families.

Work experience:

Self-employed

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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: