Illustration Agencies
An Illustration Agent is a representative from an agency who advises their client and helps them find jobs. Usually, you submit your portfolio, and the agency will decide if they want to represent you. They will then suggest you to their clients for work depending on the needs and requirements. Agency fees work by the agency taking a percentage of the money that you are paid for doing work that they find for you, this might be up to 35%. A client will get in touch with an agency to enquire about an artist, they will then use portfolios to show clients the most appropriate artists which they will have a varied range to suit all needs. An agency will not usually take on more than one illustrator or artist with too similar a style to make sure they keep this range. Its pays to be different! Agents can keep in touch with clients and put forward the right illustrator if the job is the right fit. They will also respond to publishers who are looking for illustrators or put forward an illustrator that best fits the job description. Agents are only necessary when you start doing big jobs like ad work which requires organising and negotiating. A good way to start as an illustrator is to do editorial and book work which allows you to produce a lot of work quickly and gives some freedom of experimentation.
There are hundreds of illustration agencies around the world and in the UK and something to suit every need. Most agencies will cater to all types of artists from illustrators to photographers to animators. There is a good selection of big agencies in London, and it is no surprise that they have some very big companies as clients. This can be exciting as the bigger the client, the more people are likely to see the work! But it’s not all about how many people see your work, its more about getting the right job to fit your style and needs. If the goal is to sign with a big agency, then it might be more appropriate to start with a smaller or more local agency.
On the Penguin Publishing website there is an article with help for illustrators on finding an agency. Jodie Hodges who is an agent at United Agents gives some tips on doing this. On the topic of being found by agents she says: "Using Instagram to showcase your work is a great, free tool, and can also help your work to be seen by more people. Some illustrators like to use their Instagram channels as a kind of online sketch book – where they can share works in progress and ideas, as well as finished projects. Make sure that if someone does see your work in person, or via a project with just your name attached, that you are easy to find online. Be that via your own website, Behance or The Dots account, it should be at the forefront of your mind to be easily reachable."
You can read this article here, it provides the best tips put in a simple and easy to follow way. https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/company/getting-published/How-to-find-an-illustration-agent.html
After researching agencies around the UK, I found several exciting looking agencies and I really enjoyed discovering all the unique and amazing illustrators they represent. While the majority were London based, a few were more local and spread round the country. One that I found was Beehive Illustration which boast over 150 illustrators worldwide and specialise in children’s books. An illustrator I found at this agency I particularly liked is Linh Nguyen who has work inspired by folk art and handicrafts.
https://beehiveillustration-production.herokuapp.com/
A few more agencies I discovered that I really liked the look and feel of are Jelly London, Pocko, Lemonade Illustration, Dutch Uncle and Folio Illustration and Animation Agency. Below is a preview of all these agencies websites and some of the artists they feature that caught my eye. The agency I liked most is Pocko, I love the style of the site and how bright, colourful and fun the work is. The artists they have range from illustrators, photographers, makers and animators. All the illustrators I researched at this agency have a clean modern style and each artist have something different and quirky about their work. One artist I really loved is Jiaqi Wang. Her work is full of colours and is based around daily life, visual design and character design. Some of Jiaqi’s clients include Apple, Google, Spotify, Nike, BBC, Pepsi and Starbucks.
https://www.pocko.com/
https://www.jellylondon.com/
https://www.lemonadeillustration.com/
https://www.dutchuncle.co.uk/
https://folioart.co.uk/
The AOI (Association of Illustrators) advances and protects illustrators rights and is an amazingly useful resource for illustrators. Its members include freelance illustrators, agents, students, colleges and commissioners. The AOI provides support, advice and education to members of the industry worldwide, at every stage of their career. A few notable AOI patrons include Sir Quentin Blake and Raymond briggs. Resources that the AOI provides includes licencing info, contract advice, negotiation support, members helpline, online fact sheets, portfolio consultation and exclusive industry opportunities. Some of the information I will definitely utilise in the near future is pricing guides and information on starting up a business. One artist I found on the AOI folio page that I particularly liked is Jason Chuang. I absolutely love his modern take on a traditional Japanese style and his use of flowers and beautiful textures and colours. The Association of illustrators is a great way to be part of a bigger group, get useful advice and help and also get exposure as an artist with an folio section where lots of potential clients and companies can go to find an artist to do work for them.
https://theaoi.com/
Do you really need an agent? Agents aren’t for everyone! Adam Ellis, known on social media as adamtots, doesn’t seem to have an agent. After graduating he used his own website to showcase his comic-based illustration. He went viral on Twitter after sharing a spooky story about a ghost that haunts his apartment. He is also known for his work for Buzzfeed as a webcomics expert. He now does his own thing including publishing his own books, posting on a Patreon page and his blog “Books of Adam”.
https://www.instagram.com/adamtots/
