BA (Hons) Illustration

Overview

We are committed to your professional development and encourage our students to regularly self-reflect and provide peer-to-peer feedback. As one of our students, you’ll build confidence, learn to recognise your personal strengths and identify transferable skills - all essential attributes for employment and a sustainable practice beyond graduating.

During the programme, you’ll get the opportunity to work on live project briefs and benefit from a regular programme of visiting lecturers who work in the industry. Our strong international connections also allow our students to take a semester of study with one of our partner institutions within Europe and North America, and in turn, we welcome overseas students from those institutions to join us in our studios, creating an exciting cultural exchange. Graduates become commercial or freelance illustrators, in-house illustrators and designers, printmakers, children’s book illustrators, concept artists, studio managers, art directors, entrepreneurs. <h4>Recent alumni:</h4><ul><li>Mike Coombs: Junior Designer and Concept Artist at <a href="http://www.designbytouch.com/">Design by Touch</a> – working on toy design and invention. </li><li>Jordan Wray: Employed by <a href="http://www.tigerprint.uk.com/">Tiger Print</a> and represented by <a href="http://astound.us/publishing">Astound</a>, New York. <a href="https://jordanwray.com/">jordanwray.com/</a></li><li>Tobey (Mole) Brown: Freelance (formerly Lego)</li><li>Lize Meddings: Freelance Illustrator and zine-maker – <a href="https://thesadghostclub.com/">Sad Ghost Club</a>. </li><li>James Rae: Freelance illustrator (Formerly design, illustration & animation for <a href="http://papayapods.com/">Papaya Pods</a> in Barcelona) <a href="https://jamesraedesign.com/index.html">jamesraedesign.com/index.html</a></li><li>Jack Viant: Freelance Illustrator. <a href="http://jiantillustration.co.uk/">Jiantillustration.co.uk</a></li><li>Sam Thorne: Junior Art Director at social media marketing agency <a href="http://33seconds.co/">33 Seconds</a> – clients include Amazon and Peugeot. <a href="http://www.samuelbthorne.com/">www.samuelbthorne.com</a></li><li>Stu Harmer: Freelance Illustrator for <a href="http://newazaapparel.com/">Newaza Apparel</a> (Los Angeles), <a href="http://stickerbombworld.com/">StickerBomb</a> (NY), <a href="http://www.hungerclub.co.uk/">Hunger Club</a> and more.</li><li>Emily Dymond: Freelance illustrator for brand packaging and textiles — co-founded Native Makers. <a href="https://cargocollective.com/emilydymond/ABOUT">https://cargocollective.com/emilydymond/ABOUT</a></li><li>Sayra Begum: Illustrator and author of comic ‘Mongrel’.<a href="http://www.sayra.co.uk/">http://www.sayra.co.uk/</a></li><li>Jake Williams: Freelance illustrator for The New York Times, Pavilion Books, The Telegraph and more. <a href="https://www.jakewilliams.co.uk/">www.jakewilliams.co.uk/</a></li><li>Warren Curry: Freelance Illustrator for Harrods, Culture Trip, Forpure Brewing <a href="https://www.warrencurryillustration.com/">www.warrencurryillustration.com/</a></li><li>Ben Challen: Print Producer at Jealous London</li></ul>

Our Graduates

Lize Meddings

Lize Meddings quickly developed her own unique style during her time on BA (Hons) Illustration, which was when she came up with the idea for The Sad Ghost Club. The club, which produces bestselling graphic novels, comic books apparel and merchandise now has a massive international following and focuses on spreading positive awareness of mental health. Away from her work with the Sad Ghost Club, Lize creates her own illustrations, ranging from colourful animals and confessions to wandering ladies and plant life. Interview with Lize Meddings

Jake Williams

In 2017 Jake won the prestigious New Designer of the Year award at one of the UK’s most important annual design events. In the same year, he was profiled by Design Week, The Bookseller, Creative Boom and Creative Bloq. After signing a three-book deal with publisher Pavilion, Jake’s work is stocked in shops including at The Natural History Museum and Tate Modern. His clients include New York Times, Telegraph, Scouts, DC Media, Popshot Magazine, and Chinatown London. “In other universities that I looked at, the arts were really pushed to the side – but it was really inspiring to see that all of Arts University Plymouth is dedicated to creativity and creative subjects.”

George Goodwin

George graduated from Arts University Plymouth in 2018 with a First Class Honours in BA (Hons) Illustration. As a graduate he was featured by Computer Arts and Digital Arts magazines as one to watch in the Best Grads awards. He has also had his work highlighted in Creative Boom’s highly coveted Inspiring Illustrators feature.After his degree, George began illustrating under the moniker OMGIDRAWEDIT, with clients including Jack Garrett, Truman Brewery, Black Bee Honey and St Luke’s Hospice.

Angela Datseri

Originally from Crete, Angela graduated from BA (Hons) Illustration in 2019 after attending adult art classes at Exeter College. During her final year of study, Angela created a bespoke dress featuring a pattern she had designed. She then collaborated with students from other courses to photograph and advertise the dress, which ended up being featured on the ARTSCULTURE website and in Kollab Magazine. “I found Arts University Plymouth to be such an inspirational place, even before deciding what I wanted to study. After visiting for an Open Day and seeing how students from all the different programmes collaborate and work together, I knew that this would be a creative and friendly environment where I could develop new skills and explore other creative practices.”

Charlotte Leadley

Charlotte Leadley received a First Class Honours in BA (Hons) Illustration in 2020 and is currently studying MA Illustration at Arts University Plymouth. Charlotte is based in Cornwall and her image making is defined by playful colour, shape and texture. During her undergraduate degree, she was named one of the Association of Illustrators’ 10 UK Graduates To Watch in 2020, and her final major project was shortlisted for the New Designer of the Year Award: Social Impact Design. One of Charlotte’s designs was put into production nationally as a Christmas card, as part of the University’s annual festive collaboration with Tate. Recently Charlotte won the prestigious Southcombe Barn MA Residency.

Craig Richards

Craig Richards studied BA (Hons) Illustration in 2011, completing with a First Class Honours. Currently working at BAFTA award winning game development studio The Chinese Room as a Senior Environment Artist, Craig has taken his illustration degree into the games industry.Having previously worked for Rebellion, one of Europe’s biggest independent multimedia studios, his eye for detail and skills in illustration, animation and 3D design has had Craig working in the game industry since leaving Arts University Plymouth.