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Illustrator CV example

An illustrator’s CV sits beside the portfolio, so it does a different job: it says what you drew, for whom, how much and to what deadline.

Put your freelance years under one heading with the clients beneath, give the numbers, and link the portfolio once. This example is a freelance children’s book and educational illustrator applying for an in-house post.

Creative design1 page
Illustrator CV example: fictional example, page 1. Full text is available below.
Read the example as text
Cerys Bevan
Illustrator
Sheffield · 07700 900864 · [email protected] · cerysbevan-illustration.example.com

Profile

Illustrator with six years’ freelance work for children’s, educational and magazine publishers, after two years drawing game art. Has illustrated four picture books and more than 300 textbook spot illustrations, by hand in gouache and ink or in Procreate and Photoshop, always to the brief and the print date. Looking for an in-house post with an educational or children’s publisher. Member of the Association of Illustrators.

Experience

Freelance Illustrator Sheffield · September 2020–present

Illustrated four picture books for Hollin Press, from character sheets and page roughs to final artwork, each delivered in time for its print date.

Drew 320 spot illustrations for Fernbrook Education’s Key Stage 2 science and history series, matched to the series style guide.

Research each commission before the first rough, such as mill towns and clothing for a Victorian history unit.

Agree briefs, fees and deadlines with art directors and editors, and send two rounds of roughs before final artwork.

Prepare print-ready files in CMYK at 300 dpi with bleed, and layered files for online reuse.

Promote the business through a portfolio website and Instagram, where two of the three publishers first saw the work; send quotes and invoices to about 20 clients a year.

Junior Artist Copperkettle Games, Sheffield · 2018–2020

Drew icons, items and backgrounds for two mobile games from the art lead’s style frames, and prepared sprite sheets for the developers.

Selected commissions

The Lighthouse Fox (2024) and Moth and the Moon (2023), picture books, Hollin Press

Fernbrook Science and Fernbrook History, Years 3 to 6: 320 spot illustrations (2021–2025)

A monthly editorial illustration for Northdale Living magazine (2022–present)

Education

BA (Hons) Illustration, 2:1 Pennine School of Art, Sheffield · 2018

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Merit 2015

Skills

Drawing, gouache, watercolour and ink

Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign

Character design and page layouts for picture books

Print-ready files: CMYK, bleed and 300 dpi

Fictional example for an illustrator. Every person and employer in it is invented. Replace every detail with your own.

What publishers and studios look for, and where this CV shows it

The job asks you toWhere this CV shows it
Discuss requirements, or a brief, with authors, editors or designersBriefs agreed with art directors and editors; two rounds of roughs before final artwork
Negotiate prices and timescalesFees and deadlines agreed with each client; quotes to about 20 clients a year
Research your creative ideasResearch before the first rough, such as mill towns and clothing for a Victorian history unit
Create final illustrations using hand drawing, painting or computer design packagesFinal artwork in gouache and ink, or in Procreate and Photoshop, print-ready at 300 dpi
Promote your business and manage your finances if you’re self-employedA portfolio website and Instagram; quotes and invoices for about 20 clients a year

The left column follows the National Careers Service job profile for an illustrator. If the advert you are answering describes a duty in other words, use its words for work you have actually done.

Pay varies: the National Careers Service lists pay for an illustrator as variable, with 39 to 41 hours a week typical (checked 17 October 2026).

Facts checked against National Careers Service: Illustrator on .

Skills to list for this job

The skills the National Careers Service lists for an illustrator, in CV wording. Put down only the ones you can show, each with where you used it.

  • Fine arts
  • Thorough, with close attention to detail
  • Design
  • Using initiative
  • Flexible and open to change
  • Operating systems, hardware and software
  • Taking feedback and working well under pressure
  • Thinking and reasoning
  • Competent with computers and everyday software
Choose them in the editor

From the National Careers Service profile, checked 17 October 2026.

A profile if you are starting out

This CV's profile is written for someone with experience. Here is the same job at the other level: copy it, or open it in the editor with this CV and write over it.

Illustration graduate looking for a first junior illustrator or design assistant post. Draws by hand in ink and gouache and finishes in Procreate and Photoshop, and has completed three paid commissions while studying: a café menu, a shop mural design and a set of local walking-trail maps. Portfolio of picture book roughs, editorial pieces and the commissioned work at the link above.
Use in the editor
Inside this example
  • Profile: 66 words here
  • Experience: 159 words here
  • Selected commissions: 36 words here
  • Education: 18 words here
  • Skills: 26 words here

How to write yours

01

Put freelance work under one heading

Give your freelance years one entry with your dates, then the clients and projects as bullet points. One short job per client reads as a string of short jobs; one heading reads as a business you have kept going.

02

Let the portfolio do the showing

The CV says what you drew, for whom and to what deadline; the portfolio shows how it looks. Put one link in your contact lines and open the portfolio with work like the job’s.

03

Count the work

Four picture books, 320 spot illustrations, two rounds of roughs: numbers tell an art director how much you can produce and how you work with an editor.

04

Show you work to a brief

An in-house post needs someone who takes direction. Say who you agree briefs with, how roughs are approved and that your files go to print without rework.

Questions about an illustrator CV

Do I need a portfolio to work as an illustrator?

Whichever way you come into illustration, you’ll need a portfolio, and you can build it on your own website, a blog, in print or on social media such as Instagram (National Careers Service). Put one link in your contact lines and make sure every commission on the CV is in it.

Which courses lead to illustration?

You could do a higher national diploma or degree in illustration or a related subject such as fine art, graphic design or art and design, usually with a portfolio at interview, or a college course in art and design (National Careers Service). Give the course, its grade and the year.

Can I become an illustrator without an art qualification?

You can contact companies directly with examples of your work, and the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook explains starting out as a freelance illustrator, preparing a portfolio and finding a publisher (National Careers Service). Lead with commissions and published work, and put education last.

Should I mention an agent on my CV?

Freelance illustrators sell their work directly or through an agent, who takes a percentage of sales as commission; the Society of Artists Agents lists agents (National Careers Service). If an agent represents you, name them in your profile or Additional information so a publisher knows who to contact.

Where can an illustrator work?

Illustration is used in advertising, fashion and merchandising, publishing, websites and computer games; with more training you could specialise as a medical or scientific illustrator, or move into teaching (National Careers Service). Name the fields you have drawn for in your profile.

Creative and one page: the coloured header carries your name and portfolio link, and the body stays plain so the commissions read quickly. For an online form, switch to Plain.

Guides for this CV

Turning duties into results Awards and achievements Skills to put on your CV How to write a cover letter

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