We’re excited to announce dates for the next run of Make Your Mark Bootcamp coming in January 2025 and this is your official invitation to apply!

FINAL CALL! Apply by midnight Thursday 16th January »

Ready to level-up your illustration practice?

Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been relentlessly pushing forward and not seeing the results you want, Make Your Mark Bootcamp will transform your mindset, build your confidence, help you define your direction, inspire new ideas and give you the clarity and focus you need to make real leaps forward in your creative practice – with the added support that comes from being part of an incredible community of like-minded and like-hearted creatives.

Runs Monday 20th January – Thursday 17th July 2025. Click here for the full schedule.

FINAL CALL! Apply by midnight Thursday 16th January »

Why join?

Covering some of the biggest challenges that illustrators face — from building your business, to branching out into new areas, to finding your voice, connecting with your values and harnessing your true creative potential, Bootcamp is our flagship programme for artists and illustrators like you who need mentoring, guidance, support and a creative community to level-up their career.

Joining our six month Bootcamp programme is an investment – it requires energy, time and commitment – but if you’re ready to do the work you’ll soon discover just how the power of community can lead to incredible growth and transformation, and we can promise you’ll have zero regrets and gain so much in return!

We’re proud to say there are many success stories emerging from Bootcamp with small (and big) wins from our cohort that include:

• Securing their first (or next) paid illustration job
• Gaining representation with a global illustration agency
• Getting their work published in a magazine or book
• Launching their first online shop
• Making the leap to full time freelance
• Finally having the confidence to call themselves an ‘illustrator’

& many more!

Find your voice, craft your story, develop your portfolio, build your business and get hired!

Open to artists, illustrators and creatives worldwide. Got questions? Check out our FAQ.

Deadline for applications – Thursday 16th January »

What’s included?

Our six month bootcamp includes x 12 core modules, x 4 illustration masterclasses, x 4 industry talks with art directors and 12 months inclusive access to Inkygoodness Collective Membership* commencing January 2025.  Sessions will be recorded for lifetime access. 

Who is this program for?

This program is designed for:

• Professional and emerging artists, illustrators and creatives.

• Creatives who are established in their practice but need extra support.

• Those who have a level 9 or 10 (out of 10) commitment to their creative development and are ready to “do the work.”

• People who work well in groups, who are willing to give as much as they get, and be vulnerable, honest, and supportive.

We’ll be bringing in industry speakers to set you creative briefs to work on throughout the programme across editorial, publishing, packaging, branding & much more.

To compliment the programme we’re inviting six artist & illustrators and four industry mentors from industry to host masterclasses and talks as part of our official Make Your Mark Bootcamp line-up!

We’re delighted to be joined by six leading artists and designers for Make Your Mark Bootcamp and will be announcing our first speakers & mentors in early September!

Masterclasses will be available inclusively for artists enrolled on Bootcamp. Those wishing to attend our Masterclasses only will have the option to purchase our new All-Access Masterclass pass or tickets to access individual Masterclasses later this year.

Previous Inkygoodness speakers include Flying Eye Books & Owen Davey; CEO & Founder of The Bright Agency Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, UK based illustrator and animator Hannah Jacobs, Portugal based illustrator Danii Pollehn, Children’s illustrator Ella Bailey, visual artist and illustrator Marc David Spengler, award winning illustrator Lisk Feng, and Aardman Director & Designer Gavin Strange – and you’ll get access to recordings of all these sessions and many more inside our Creative Resources Hub!

Let’s meet your mentors…

Confirmed Speaker & Mentor: Mark Conlan

Mark Conlan is an illustrator hailing from Dublin who recently returned to Ireland after 15 years living in Melbourne’s sunny southern suburbs.

His characteristic whimsical style is both unique and playful, accentuated by his bold use of colour in full spectrum and limited palettes. Mark’s ability to distil a concept down to its visual essence is what sets him apart, affording him the privilege of working with some of the worlds most recognisable brands.

Mark joins Make Your Mark Bootcamp as a speaker and mentor, and will present a Masterclass on Thursday 5th February 2025 as part of our official line-up, alongside joining us for mentoring sessions in April 2025.

Confirmed Speaker & Mentor: Loreta Isac

Loreta Isac is a Bucharest, Romania-based Illustrator & Animator, passionate about snowboarding, jogging, traveling, music festivals and nature.

Her personal creations often involve animating and transforming various plants or objects. Inspired by themes such as well-being, nature, melancholy, visual poetry, and music, Loreta constantly follows her curiosity.

Notable clients like Apple, Sam Smith, Bon Appetit, The Washington Post and The New York Times, creating illustrations and short animation loops for social media content, music animation videos, and occasionally, filter animation.

Loreta joins Make Your Mark Bootcamp as a speaker and mentor, and will present an Illustration Masterclass on Thursday 3rd April 2025 as part of our official line-up, alongside joining us for mentoring sessions in Spring!

Confirmed Speaker & Mentor: Con McHugh

Con McHugh is an animator and illustrator based in Bristol who has built a reputation for his distinctive analogue-inspired, looping animations characterised by hand-drawn imperfections and a rhythm that feels almost musical. In a digital world that strives for polished perfection, his work is refreshingly tactile, celebrating simplicity and the charm of imperfection.

In his home studio in Bristol, Con deliberately avoids a perfectly curated workspace, instead opting for something a little messier—a reflection of his creative process. “I like a bit of chaos; it balances out the discipline of design and has started to influence my illustration work. I love to bring that sense of looseness into my animations.” This approach led Con to his now-iconic style, which sets him apart. His work uses minimal lines, muted colours, and a sense of rhythm that feels organic and unforced. This authenticity has resonated with many others, allowing him to carve out his niche in the animation and illustration space.

Confirmed Speaker & Mentor: Ella Kasperowicz

Lucas Beaufort is a French visionary artist-painter living in a world surrounded by imaginary characters, kind but mischievous monsters, who help him build a positive image on the world and guide his choices every day. His vibrant, colorful work is inextricably linked with the cultures of street art and skateboarding; two of his abiding passions.

The Cannes native first became known for his jaunty style and drawings over skate magazine covers. Today, you can enjoy his abstract characters on murals all over the world. Lucas approaches drawing the same way he approaches skateboarding — full of energy, joy, and fearlessness. Citing artists Zio Ziegler, Andy Rementer, Geoff McFetridge and Jeremyville amongst his influences, Lucas has collaborated with global brands including Wemoto, Finisterre, Tignes, Opinel, W London and many more. His best selling book HEART celebrating 40 years of skate shop history was published in 2022.

Lucas joins Make Your Mark Bootcamp as a speaker & mentor, and will present a Masterclass in Spring 2025, alongside mentoring sessions in Spring.

Confirmed Speaker & Mentor: Fotini Tikkou

Fotini Tikkou is an illustrator and ceramic artist based in Athens, Greece, and the creative mind behind her homeware brand “The Good Stuff”. Fotini’s work includes children’s books, editorial illustrations, book covers and art licensing projects. Her favourite mediums are gouache, watercolour and colour pencils. She also loves collage and sometimes she combines traditional and digital techniques. She also really enjoys making ceramics and creating personal work.

Her illustration style ranges from cute to funny and often portrays diversity and body acceptance in her artwork. Her clients include Oxford University Press, Penguin Readers, Little Tiger, Flow Magazine, Frankie Magazine, American Greetings and Anthropologie. She is represented worldwide by The Bright Agency.

Fotini joins Make Your Mark Bootcamp as a speaker and mentor, and will present an Illustration Masterclass on Children’s Illustration & Tips on how to get into licensing on Wednesday 12th February as part of our official line-up, alongside joining us for mentoring sessions in Spring!

Industry Mentors + Creative Briefs

Tori & Owen Phillips-Walmsley, Creative Directors at Oat Agency

Oat are a London-based, multi-disciplinary design studio founded by award-winning designers Owen and Tori Phillips-Walmsley.

Specialising in brand identities, graphic design, print, digital and event graphics, their past clients range from fashion and lifestyle brands, to arts and cultural establishments. Having met whilst studying graphic design at the University of Brighton, they have over 30 years combined design experience, working on, and managing a range of design projects from brand identities and event graphics, to signage systems and packaging, art direction, editorial and more recently, retail.

“We aim to work with people and organisations who share our belief in the power of creativity, and who want to have a positive impact in the world.” says Owen Phillips-Walmsley, Creative Director & Co-Founder at Oat. “We are delighted to partner with @inkygoodness for their Bootcamp programme! Much of our work is based on collaborations with upcoming illustrators so we are always on the lookout for new and exciting talent. We look forward to seeing all the amazingly creative and thought provoking submissions for our brief!”

Oat Agency join Make Your Mark Bootcamp as our industry mentors and be setting our Bootcamp cohort a creative brief as part of the programme, alongside joining us for live feedback and selecting two artists for mentoring sessions later in the year!

 

Lucy Craig represents a range of artists at Plum, but with a focus for ages 7+. She brings a variety of publishing experience to her role, having worked previously at Seven Stories, Waterstones, The Moon Lane Group and New Frontier Publishing. She is particularly drawn to pencil-like textures, neon palettes, and artwork with dark vibes or cute dogs! She loves the joy illustrated books can bring and the impact they have on people’s lives.

Lucy joins Make Your Mark Bootcamp as a speaker & mentor, and will present an Industry Talk on Illustrating for Picture Books on Thursday 11th February! Lucy will also be setting our Bootcamp cohort a creative brief to illustrate their first (or next) children’s book cover.

PLUS:

Creative Briefs

We’ll be bringing in industry speakers to set you a variety of creative briefs to work on throughout the programme across editorial, publishing, packaging, branding & much more!

Buddy Groups

Join a buddy group to meet artists and illustrators on the programme to get extra support, share your work and build connections within our global community!

All artists who enrol in Bootcamp will also benefit from the following bonuses…

Bonus #1 – Press & PR Toolkit (Zoom)

Learn how to be your own publicist! Essential tips on planning your own marketing strategy with advice on copywriting, useful phrases and tone of voice for press releases and best practice for reaching out to magazines, blogs and press for features as an artist or illustrator.

Bonus #2 – Lock in 12 Months Access to Inkygoodness Collective

Artists enrolled on Bootcamp also benefit from 12 months inclusive access to Inkygoodness Collective on our Community Plan (worth £299!).

Free period will commence Thursday 9th January with nothing to pay until 15th January 2026. 

Membership also includes access to our Creative Resources Hub with cheat sheets, workbooks, video recordings & guides to support your creative development.

Dates

Make Your Mark runs 20th January – 17th July 2025. Live Sessions are hosted every week and alternate between Wednesday @ 10.30am; and Thursday @ 6pm suit different time zones.

All sessions are recorded for replay access. Timings BST/GMT.

Fee

Payment options

• Pay in Full – £699
• Split Payment – £749 (Pay £349 + one payment of £400)
• Payment Plan – £749 (Pay £149 + four equal monthly payments of £150).

Inkygoodness Collective Membership

Make Your Mark Bootcamp includes 12 months inclusive access to Inkygoodness Collective on our Community Plan (worth £299!). Includes access to our Creative Resources Hub with over 40 hours of panel talks, masterclasses, workshops, resources and industry talks with past speakers including Kelly Anna, The Printed Peanut, Jacqueline Colley, Hedof & many more.

Open to artists, illustrators and creatives worldwide, Make Your Mark alumni are especially welcome to get on board – we’ll be giving you a special discount to join the programme.

Starts Monday 20th January 2025.

Get Involved & Apply Now – Deadline EXTENDED till 16th January!

Successful applicants will be notified within 2-3 days of their application and invited to secure their spot with a deposit. Applications close midnight 16th January.

Let’s go!

Branding illustration for Make Your Mark Bootcamp created by Martina Leonard 

Curious about the schedule? Click here for the full breakdown!