BA Illustration

The BA (Hons) Illustration course at NUCA has developed a strong reputation for supporting students to become confident and distinctive professional illustrators and work in other closely linked professions. The course will enable you to produce original and thought-provoking work for a range of sectors including publishing and editorial (book and magazine illustration), advertising, corporate communications and new media.

The course, taught by tutors who are practising illustrators, provides a holistic education in the fundamental principles of visual communication. You will be expected to bring your own thoughts and influences to the course and develop an original style that makes you stand out from the crowd.

You will be encouraged to explore your ideas and push the boundaries of your practice through experimentation in calligraphy, bookbinding, screenprinting, collage, life drawing and lino relief printmaking alongside digital projects using the latest industry-standard software.

Your tutors and professional guest lecturers will help you to contextualise your practice through discussion of past and present artists looking at their use of composition, colour and form.

Through workshops, professional briefs, producing entries for illustration industry competitions (such as D&AD), industry lectures and studio visits you will develop your professional awareness. Recent professional guest lecturers include Graham Rawle, Jonny Hannah, Toby Morrison, Bruce Ingman and Tim Smart.

The course aims to ensure that upon graduation you have an understanding of how to promote yourself, price your work, find an agent and exploit different markets; enabling you to enter the marketplace as a confident and informed illustrator or engage with a range of associated professional careers.