We’re so excited to share this with you…

The Children Illustrators Playbook is officially coming this June!

Enrolment is now open for our Early Bird rate of £199 until 30th April.

This is your chance to secure your spot and dive into a course designed to help you build a professional picture book portfolio with confidence.

Plus, when you sign up early, you’ll also receive The Picture Book Portfolio Kit (value £149) – your complete toolkit for planning, developing and pitching your work with clarity and confidence, delivered straight to your inbox on enrolment.

Enrol now for £199

Ready to build a children’s illustration portfolio that tells a story?

If you’ve been dreaming of illustrating picture books but aren’t sure what publishers and art directors are looking for, this course is here to help you begin.

We’ve brought together an incredible line-up of illustrators, agents, publishers and art directors at the heart of children’s publishing – here to inspire, guide and support you throughout the course.

What is The Children’s Illustrator’s Playbook?

An 8-week guided journey (1st June – 24th July) designed to help you move from early ideas to a polished picture book concept and portfolio-ready work.

Through a mix of:

• Live workshops

• Creative exercises

• Guest sessions with industry experts

• Feedback and community support

…you’ll develop your storytelling, strengthen your visual language, and create a body of work that reflects your voice as an illustrator.

Enrol now for £199 | Early Bird Pricing Ends 20th April

What you’ll learn

Over 8 weeks, you’ll be guided step-by-step through developing a fully realised picture book concept – from early ideas through to a polished, portfolio-ready pitch for publishers.

Through a mix of live workshops, creative exercises and expert-led sessions, you’ll build your skills, strengthen your storytelling, and gain the confidence to create work that stands out.

Starting Monday 1st June, live classes will alternate between Wednesday mornings at 11am, and Thursday evenings at 7pm BST (GMT+1).

Foundations & Creative Warm-Up (Weeks 1–2)

Kick things off with energy and play! Explore the children’s illustration landscape, take part in fast creative jams, and begin developing expressive characters through confidence-building exercises.

Characters, Worlds & Visual Storytelling (Weeks 3–4)

Level up your storytelling. Explore character expression, narrative flow, and world-building – learning how environments shape story through guided sessions and live feedback.

Picture Book Concepts & Scene Development (Weeks 5–6)

Dive into visual thinking and story development. Refine your characters and shape a picture book concept through key narrative moments and story-led illustrations.

Portfolio Polish & Industry Spotlight (Weeks 7–8)

Finish strong. Refine your portfolio, shape your pitch, and prepare to present your work, culminating in live Round Table Portfolio Sessions with live industry feedback.

Across the 8 weeks, you’ll explore:

• Character design and expression

• Visual storytelling and narrative pacing

• World-building and environments

• Composition and picture book spreads

• How to shape and present a cohesive portfolio

• What agents, publishers and art directors are really looking for

Each week builds towards your own picture book project — helping you create a sequence of illustrations that demonstrate story, consistency, and creative confidence.

Why this matters

Breaking into children’s illustration isn’t just about making strong images – it’s about telling stories, building worlds, and showing you can carry a narrative across a series of illustrations.

This course is designed to help you do exactly that – with structure, support, and real insight into the picture book industry.

Meet Your Guest Tutors

Throughout the course, you’ll learn directly from experienced illustrators in a series of dedicated, in-depth sessions:

Emma Block — Illustrator & Author
Where Stories Begin: Creating Picture Books Through Character

Emma Block is a UK-based illustrator and author working across publishing, editorial, and branding. She has written and illustrated non-fiction several books, including The Joy of Watercolour and picture book series: The Adventures of Miss Petitfour. In this session, Emma shares how to develop memorable characters and build stories through personality, gesture, and emotion.

Anoosha Syed — Illustrator
Picture Book Storytelling: Pacing, Emotion & Composition

Anoosha Syed is a Pakistani-Canadian illustrator and author who has illustrated over 40 children’s books. With a background in animation and character design, her work focuses on storytelling and representation. In her session, Anoosha explores how to create emotionally engaging scenes through pacing, composition, and visual storytelling.

Owen Davey — Illustrator & Author
Creating Magical Environments

Owen Davey is an award-winning illustrator known for his bold, graphic style and bestselling non-fiction picture books published worldwide. His clients include Google, WWF, and The New York Times. In this session, Owen teaches how to design rich, imaginative environments that bring your stories to life.

Meet Your Industry Speakers & Reviewers

Alongside this, you’ll gain valuable industry insight through a series of bite-sized sessions and live discussions with professionals shaping the world of children’s books:

Sam Arthur — Co-Founder Flying Eye Books
Inside a Picture Book Publisher

Sam Arthur is the co-founder of the publishing house NoBrow & Flying Eye Books. Sam offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on how picture books are developed and evaluated by publishers. He’ll discuss what makes a compelling concept, how editors review submissions, and what publishers look for when working with emerging illustrators.

Lorna Scobie — Illustrator & Design Manager, Macmillan Children’s Books
From Sketch to Shelf: Inside Picture Book Publishing

Lorna Scobie is a London-based illustrator, author, and Design Manager at Macmillan Children’s Books, and creator of the bestselling 365 Days of Art series. In this session, she shares how art directors work with illustrators and how picture books move from manuscript to finished book.

Bethany Sparks — Picture Book Agent, Little Inkling Agency
What Illustration Agents Look For

Bethany Sparks began her agenting career in children’s publishing and joined female led Inkling Illustration Agency in 2024. Bethany shares insight into how agents discover new illustrators and what they look for in children’s illustration portfolios, covering common portfolio mistakes, and how illustrators can position their work when approaching representation.

Benji Davies — Picture Book Writer & Illustrator
Building a Picture Book from Scratch

Benji Davies is a picture book writer and artist. In his work he aims to capture how it feels to be a child. Since hailed a modern classic, his first self-penned picture book, The Storm Whale, won the inaugural Oscar’s Book Prize and was Dutch Picture Book Of The Year. Expect a behind-the-scenes look at how a picture book comes to life, from first idea to fully realised story, through the lens of a writer-illustrator.

Robyn Newton — Head of Children’s Illustration at The Bright Agency  
Making the Perfect Match: How Agents Connect Illustrators & Authors 

Robyn Newton has been with Bright eight years and counting. After agenting across the children’s list for many years, she now heads up the UK Children’s Illustration team. In her session she will share an insider’s look at how agents connect illustrators with authors to create the perfect creative partnerships. Discover what agents look for, how to position your work, and the key steps to getting noticed in the world of publishing and beyond. 

Zoë Gregory — Senior Director, Nosy Crow 
Making Your Picture Book Land

Zoë Gregory is Senior Art Director of Pre-School Books at Nosy Crow, where she leads and oversees the development of fun, highly interactive novelty titles for young readers. Zoë is passionate about creating playful, engaging concepts that spark curiosity and invite children to explore books again and again. Led through Zoe’s expertise as an Art Director at Nosy Crow, you’ll gain insight into sharpening your concept, strengthening visual storytelling, and presenting your idea with clarity and impact. 

Round Table Portfolio Reviews 

Our 8-week course culminates in our Round Table Portfolio Reviews in late July, where you’ll be invited to submit your final project for an opportunity to present your project directly to publishers, agents, and leading illustrators and receive professional feedback on your picture book projects!

Enrol now for £199

Finish with confidence

By the end of the course, you’ll have:

• A cohesive picture book concept
• A series of portfolio-ready illustrations
• A clearer understanding of how to position your work professionally
•  The opportunity to take part in live round table portfolio sessions with industry professionals

FAQ

When does the course run?

Starting Monday 1st June, our course runs over 8 weeks, with weekly live workshops and guided assignments to help you steadily develop your picture book concept and portfolio work.

When do the live sessions take place?

Taught sessions and Masterclasses take place on Wednesday’s & Thursdays on Zoom, with live workshops and Industry Q&A’s scheduled on Tuesdays & Fridays. Our full schedule is available to download here so you can start planning ahead.

What if I can’t attend a session live?

No problem! All workshops and masterclasses are recorded, so you can catch up in your own time if you’re unable to attend live.

How long will I have access to the course materials?

You’ll have six months of access to all recordings, resources, and course materials, so you can revisit the lessons and continue developing your work after the course finishes.

How will feedback on my work happen?

You’ll receive feedback through live workshops, guided critique sessions, and structured assignment reviews throughout the course. There will also be opportunities for peer-to-peer feedback within the community.

How do I share my work during the course?

You’ll have the opportunity to share your work inside the course platform and our dedicated Google Drive, where you can upload assignments and receive feedback from instructors.

Is the course suitable for beginners?

The course is designed for illustrators and creatives who want to develop a children’s illustration portfolio. Beginner’s are very welcome!

How do the Round Table Portfolio Sessions work?

Everyone receives feedback from our tutors during the course. Selected participants will also be invited to present their work in our Round Table Portfolio Sessions with industry guests. Details on how to submit your final projects will be shared inside our Course Hub.

I’m not based in the UK — can I still join?

Absolutely. The course is fully online and open to illustrators worldwide. If the live sessions fall outside your time zone, you’ll be able to watch the recordings at a time that works for you.

Are you offering any funded spaces?

Yes, applications will open for funded and subsidised spaces are open now until May 13th. Head here to apply for a spot.

Is this course just for picture books?

We use picture books as a framework, but the skills apply across children’s illustration and publishing.

What age range does this course focus on?

It’s focused on children’s illustration, with picture books as a starting point — but the skills apply across a wide range of age groups.

 Your Early Enrolment Bonus

Enrol early and unlock our brand new Picture Book Portfolio Kit (worth £149)

Your complete toolkit for building, refining, and presenting a picture book portfolio with clarity and confidence.

This toolkit is designed to support your learning throughout the course:

• Start with The Story Development Workbook to explore and shape your ideas

• Use The Portfolio Blueprint to guide what you create and include

• Refer to The Art Director Briefing to understand how your work is being seen

• Apply The Portfolio Review Prep Kit as you begin sharing and refining your work

• Use The Pitch Playbook when you’re ready to start reaching out

Each guide builds on the next, helping you move from idea to development, refinement and pitching.

Start Your Picture Book Journey Today

Ready to get started?

If you’ve been thinking about developing your picture book work, building a stronger portfolio, or exploring children’s illustration more seriously – this is your moment. Live classes start Wednesday 3rd June, with a Kick off & Welcome Event on Monday 1st June at 7pm BST.

We’d love to have you inside!

Bring Your Picture Book Ideas to Life

Enrol early and unlock our brand new Picture Book Portfolio Kit (worth £149)

Your complete toolkit for building, refining, and presenting a picture book portfolio with clarity and confidence.

Got questions before we begin? We’re pulled together common FAQ’s above – but if there’s anything you’re unsure about or need clarity on, simply drop us a line. We’re here to support you every step of the way!