8-WEEK LIVE COURSE
The Children Illustrators Playbook
STARTS MONDAY 1st june
Enrol today and unlock the Picture Book Portfolio Kit (Value £149) - your step-by-step toolkit for building, refining and pitching your portfolio with confidence!
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 guide you!
Over 8 weeks, you’ll develop a pitch-ready concept, building a cohesive story world through character, storytelling, pacing, and environments.
With expert guidance, practical assignments, and feedback, you’ll turn scattered ideas into a clear concept and a strong set of narrative-led illustrations ready to share with publishers and agents.
Foundations & Creative Warm-Up (Weeks 1–2)
We kick things off with energy and play. You’ll explore the children’s illustration landscape, loosen up with fast creative jams, and begin developing expressive characters. Expect confidence-building exercises and plenty of imaginative momentum.
CREATIVE JAMS — CHARACTER PLAY — CONFIDENCE BUILDING
Characters, Worlds & Visual Storytelling (Weeks 3–4)
Time to level up your storytelling. You’ll explore character expression, narrative flow, and the art of building magical worlds for your characters to inhabit. From cosy interiors to wild landscapes, you’ll learn how environments shape the story. With expert guidance and live feedback, your ideas will grow into vibrant, story-led illustrations.
CHARACTER EXPRESSION — STORY WORLDS — NARRATIVE SCENES
Story Concepts & Scene Development (Weeks 5–6)
Now we dive deeper into visual thinking and story development. You’ll experiment with ideas, refine your characters, and begin shaping a short picture book concept through key narrative moments. It’s all about turning simple ideas into engaging, story-driven illustrations.
IDEA EXPLORATION — STORY CONCEPTS — SCENE DEVELOPMENT
Portfolio Polish & Industry Spotlight (Weeks 7–8)
Finish strong. You’ll refine your portfolio, shape your pitch, and prepare to share your work with confidence. The course culminates in live Round Table Portfolio Sessions, where selected participants will receive professional feedback and insights, with the whole group learning from the discussion and industry perspectives.
PORTFOLIO REFINEMENT — PITCH PREPARATION — ROUND TABLE FEEDBACK
"I have been blown away by how much this course has given me, it was truly an incredible experience! I have learnt so much, the briefs were so fun to tackle and of course meeting the Art Directors just made it even more special. Thank you, Inkygoodness!"
— EMMA QUAN, illustrator
Meet Your Instructors
Owen Davey
ILLUSTRATOR
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. In his session, Owen will guide you through the art of world-building — showing you how to create rich, engaging environments that bring your stories to life and give your work a strong, cohesive visual identity.
@owendaveydraws
Emma Block
ILLUSTRATOR
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 her session, Emma shares how to develop memorable characters and build stories through personality, gesture, and emotion.
@emmablockillustration
Anoosha Syed
ILLUSTRATOR
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.
@anooshadraws
Bring Your Picture Book Idea to Life in in Just 8 Weeks
Who It's For
This course is for you if...
You love children’s illustration and visual storytelling
You want to create work for picture books and children’s publishing
You’re unsure what publishers, agents, and art directors expect to see in a portfolio
You have lots of ideas but struggle to turn them into a clear story concept
You want structure, deadlines, and expert guidance to help you develop your work
You’d value being part of a supportive community of illustrators
Whether you’re transitioning from editorial or product illustration, refining your style, or beginning your journey in children’s publishing — this course will help you develop a pitch-ready picture book concept and a cohesive set of story-led illustrations.
What You'll Learn
Over 8 weeks, we’ll guide you through the key foundations of a strong picture book portfolio.
You'll learn how to:
Develop compelling characters: Create memorable characters that feel expressive, consistent, and full of personality across multiple story moments.
Tell stories through images: Learn how to communicate emotion, pacing, and narrative beats through visual storytelling.
Create engaging picture book scenes: Explore composition, page turns, and how illustrations work together to shape a story.
Develop a pitch-ready picture book concept: Build a cohesive body of work around a central story idea you can confidently share with publishers and agents.
Understand the industry: Learn how the children’s publishing world works and what editors and art directors want to see from emerging illustrators.
What You’ll Create
During the course, you’ll develop:
A central character: Expressive character designs that bring personality and consistency to your story.
A short picture book concept: A simple story idea that becomes the foundation for your illustrations.
Key story moments: A series of narrative illustrations that capture important beats in your story.
Picture book scenes and spreads: Thoughtfully composed images that explore pacing, environments, and visual storytelling.
A cohesive mini portfolio project: A connected body of work built around your story concept, ready to share with publishers, agents, and art directors.
You’ll finish strong with a pitch-ready picture book concept and a cohesive set of narrative illustrations you can confidently share with agents, publishers, and art directors.
How the Course Works
Duration: 8 weeks | Format: Live online sessions + guided assignments
Inside the course you’ll get:
Weekly live workshops to guide you through each stage of developing your picture book concept.
Practical assignments focused on character development, storytelling, and world-building.
Expert feedback and guidance to help refine your ideas and strengthen your work.
A supportive illustrator community to share progress, ideas, and encouragement throughout the course.
Industry Q&As with publishers, agents, and leading illustrators.
Round Table Portfolio Crit sessions for professional insight on your work.
Industry Talks & Guest Reviewers
Plus more to be confirmed!
Sam Arthur
CO-FOUNDER - NOBROW & FLYING EYE BOOKS
Sam Arthur is the co-founder of the publishing house NoBrow/Flying Eye Books. After 10 years directing music videos, commercials and short films, he set up Nobrow with business partner Alex Spiro. In 2013 they launched Flying Eye Books our dedicated children’s book imprint. Sam is CEO of Nobrow Ltd which has offices in London and New York, and Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of the AOI (Association of Illustrators) as well as Festival Director of ELCAF (East London Comic Arts Festival).
@flyingeyebooks
Robyn Newton
HEAD OF CHILDREN'S ILLUSTRATION - THE BRIGHT AGENCY
Robyn Newton has been with Bright Agency 8 years and counting. After agenting across the children’s list for many years, she now heads up the UK Children’s Illustration team, and brings with her a wealth of agenting experience, as well as publishing knowledge from her previous career as an editor. She manages a small list of prolific artists working in the middle grade fiction arena, including James Lancett, Manuel Sumberac, Flavia Sorrentino, and Marta Kissi.
@thebrightagency
Benji Davies
AWARD WINNING PICTURE BOOK WRITER & ILLUSTRATOR
Benji Davies is a picture book writer and artist. In his work he aims to capture how it feels to be a child. By immersing themselves in the stories he writes and illustrates, Benji hopes that children will find a quiet confidence with which to navigate the noise and bustle of the real world. 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.
@benjidavies
Bethany Sparks
CREATIVE AGENT - INKLING ILLUSTRATION AGENCY
Beth began her agenting career in children’s publishing and joined female led Inkling Illustration Agency in 2024. With a background in graphic design and studio management, she brings a keen eye for detail and a thoughtful, collaborative approach to the projects she manages. Alongside this, Bethany supports Little Inkling, a new division dedicated to children’s illustration - focused on nurturing talent, building strong relationships, and fostering meaningful creative collaborations.
@inkling__illustration
Zoë Gregory
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR - NOSY CROW
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. With a background in Graphic Design and Publishing from Norwich School of Art, she spent six years at Campbell Books designing and illustrating innovative formats including cloth books, bath books, flaps, tabs, die-cuts and pop-ups. Zoë is passionate about creating playful, engaging concepts that spark curiosity and invite children to explore books again and again.
@nosycrow
Lorna Scobie
ILLUSTRATOR & DESIGN MANAGER - MACMILLAN BOOKS
Lorna Scobie is a London-based author, illustrator, and book designer, as well as Design Manager at Macmillan Children's Books. She is the creator of the bestselling 365 Days of Art series and has written and illustrated numerous picture books for children. Inspired by nature and working primarily with hand-painted techniques, Lorna is passionate about encouraging creativity and believes that art is for everyone.
@lornascobie
Enrol today and unlock the Picture Book Portfolio Kit (Value £149) - your step-by-step toolkit for building, refining and pitching your portfolio with confidence!
