Illustration Welcome Guide

Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Illustration

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you in October.

A message from your Course Leader

It’s almost time to begin your time on BA (Hons) Illustration. We're really looking forward to meeting you all and getting to know you. We'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Illustration course, and we hope that you'll enjoy your time here at Arts University Bournemouth.

Please review the reading list recommended for the start of your course and the background information to the course. You'll be given further information upon the commencement of the course.

– Vincent Larkin, Course Leader

Before you join us

This year, rather than asking you to complete a ‘project’, we are asking you to just keep making work that interests you based loosely around the theme of Play. This can be in the form of drawings, sketches, and 2D and/or 3D objects. Keep creative by continuing to explore websites and magazines, read books or play games – anything that feeds your illustrative interests.

To create a starting point for our first conversation with you and your new peers, we'd like you to find an image or two of a contemporary professional illustrator’s work that you find interesting or inspiring and points to ways of working or aesthetics you would like to explore in your own practice. Additionally, feel free to bring along any recently created images, to give the tutors and your peers and idea of your practice, and current areas of interest.

None of this work will be assessed, so keep it as an opportunity to make work that you enjoy.

How to submit your summer project

Bring an image (or two) of a professional illustrator’s work with you, alongside any work you have made that you wish to share, to Welcome Week (this won’t be required on the first day).

The Library here at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need. The list below indicates the key texts that will be useful throughout your studies, all of these are available from the Library at AUB. You might want to borrow a copy from your local library to look at before you arrive. You'll receive a comprehensive reading list in the Course Handbook and at the start of each unit.

Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
History of Illustration by Susan Doyle et al.
Picture This: How Pictures Work by Molly Bang
Motion Illustration: How to Use Animation Techniques to Make Illustrations Move by Adam Osgood
The Fundamentals of Illustration by Lawrence Zeegen
Drawing Attention: Custom Illustration Solutions for Brands Today by Victor Cheung
Reading Images: The Grammar of Visual Design by Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen
Drawn in: A Peek into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators, Graphic Designers and Cartoonists by Julia Rothman
Centered: People + Ideas Diversifying Design by Kaleena Sales
Illustration Next: Contemporary Creative Collaboration by Ana Benaroya

Varoom
The Journal of Illustration
Anorak Magazine
Computer Arts
Fantagraphics
So Young Magazine

How to be an Illustrator

by Darrel Rees and Nicholas Blechman

Find out more

Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

Colourful illustration of a person holding a cocktail with a creature inside, wearing a patterned bomber jacket and orange trousers, yellow-cushioned background.

3D render of a person floating on a white orb with long white sleeves, light sunset sea and sky background.

Detailed, colourful coral ornament with two people, bright green and pink, white background.

Render of a skeletal alien creature with a glowing green eye, undercast pink lighting, dark cloudy background.

Material-style render of a large red eye looking at a person leaning outside against a tree.

Illustration of a girl flying on an orange fish through the woods with other schools of fish, dark background.

Illustration of two purple characters fighting cartoon-style, one getting knocked out in red, the other against a white background. Text reads 'Get shot of them altogether'.

Illustrated comic page of characters at the beach, walking through orange grass, sitting in a hammock and eating, blue ocean background.

Underground station with large sculpture

Ceramic figurine with a large face and legs holding a mug of the same appearance, white background.

Illustration of a pink cartoon character strained whilst holding up multicoloured rocks, white background.

Box with parts of a detective card game, illustrated characters and blue/yellow theme.

Illustration of a character looking through the water at their illuminated reflection with glowing fish and lily pads, blue and purple gradient.

Comic strip of a character in a pink room looking out at someone in bright neon lighting at a train station.

A collection of colourful 3D-rendered characters including a wizard and dragon, white background.

3D render of an armless character on roller skates in funky orange polka-dot trousers, pink-purple blurred background.

A strawberry with eyes, lips, teeth and legs, looks down with a shocked expression.

Illustration image of a boy walking up a hill

Painted scene of people sitting at a table at the beach outside a small white building that reads 'Peter's Ice Cream'.

Illustration of mother child and fox walking through the snow in clothes, snowy trees and watercolour background.

3D render of a monkey smoking in a car in the desert wearing a cap and red sunglasses, dragon off-camera behind it.

What to bring on your first day

On your first day, bring along:

A notebook and something to write with
Your ID and documents for face-to-face registration (see the "Next Steps" tab for more details)
Your Temporary ID card from your Welcome notebook inside cover if you have one

The first day is a chance for us to tell you about the weeks ahead. You won’t need to bring along the images of contemporary illustrators' work/your own work on day one.

You'll be provided with a basic material kit at the start of the course, with some additional equipment that you can supplement according to your needs.