Illustration University of Portsmouth

Overview

Whether you’re an arts graduate or a professional returning to creative studies, you'll be able to explore, question, and develop your practice through traditional and innovative techniques.

The MA Illustration academic team from the University of Portsmouth is made up of experienced practitioners in the field of artists' books and zines, practice-based PhDs, and printmaking. They'll provide the expertise and support you need to push your creative boundaries and find your individual artistic voice.

This practice-led Master’s in Illustration at University of Portsmouth will culminate in production of your own personal project, where you'll be able to define your role as a creative practitioner within a social, political, and historical context.

With opportunities to network and publicise and market your work, you'll be better prepared to take your creative career to the next level once you graduate – whether by pursuing a career as an illustrator or in related fields such as art direction, design, and publishing.

Course highlights

• Complete a major body of work which showcases your development and skills

• Explore themes such as narrative and sequential illustration, humour and satire, ethical and social positioning of the artist, literary sources for inspiration, limited edition publications, small presses, and artists’ books

• Consider the question “what is illustration?” and examine the social responsibility of the illustrator as a cultural producer

• Discover your specialisms and position your individual practice within the creative industries

• Engage with high profile visiting lecturers, freelance illustrators and other industry connections such as external speakers from Egmont Books

• Take part in field trips – both to local galleries and London-based museums

• Access the extensive collection of artists’ books and zines, located within the illustration studios

• Develop your existing skills through specialist workshops such as laser cutting and 3D printing, photography, etching and letterpress, drawing and print workshops

• Showcase your Adobe expertise to industry peers by gaining Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) qualifications

Careers and opportunities

As a successful graduate of this course, you'll have the practical skills necessary to compete in a commercial arena, and the rhetorical skills to promote your own work. You'll be able to position yourself as a creative individual, giving you a competitive edge as an illustrator or artist.

Graduates of this course have found jobs such as:

• Animator, storyboard artist and digital illustrator

• Graphic/editorial designer

• Art director

• Toy and character designer

• Comic book or graphic novelist

• Printmaker and small press publisher

• Zinester

• Creative developer

• Art Teacher/Lecturer

Accreditation

This course is a member of the Association of Illustrators (AOI)