Overview

Follow in the footsteps of acclaimed children’s artists by studying your Children’s Book Illustration MA degree at ARU. Work with a dedicated support team of internationally recognized illustrators to develop your own personal visual vocabulary. Make connections in the children’s publishing industry.

Additional Description

• Develop your own personal visual vocabulary supported by a team of internationally recognized illustrators
• Benefit from a 150-year tradition of drawing and inspiring creativity at Cambridge School of Art
• Follow in the footsteps of many award-winning students and successful alumni

Our Children's Book Illustration taught studio course, the first of its kind in the UK, was developed by our distinguished Professor Martin Salisbury, who still contributes to teaching on the course. It will give you the dedicated support and knowledge you need to develop your practice in the art of children’s book illustration.

Within the broad guidelines of each Children's Book Illustration module, you’ll propose and develop a project, with guidance from internationally recognized illustrators, writers, and publishers of children's books. You’ll share and discuss your work with other students in group critiques, and attend lectures and seminars that will inform your studio practice.

Illustration at Anglia Ruskin is built on a tradition that goes back to the founding of the Cambridge School of Art in 1858. Our MA degree students work in dedicated illustration studios right next door to the Ruskin Gallery, with access to a fully equipped printmaking studio.

By studying your Children's Book Illustration degree at ARU, you’ll follow in the footsteps of alumni such as designer and war artist Edward Bawden, acclaimed graphic satirist Ronald Searle, and Roger Law, and Peter Fluck, founders of the TV phenomenon Spitting Image.

Many of our past students now enjoy careers as freelance authors and illustrators for children. Among our published graduates are Paula Metcalf, Marta Altés, Nadia Shireen, Birgitta Sif, Rebecca Patterson, and Jo Empson.

You may decide to take your work to a deeper level with a research degree, like our Ph.D. Children’s Book Illustration.

You can show your work to leading publishing companies and literary agencies at our annual graduation exhibition, held at a venue in London before returning to our own Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge. You can also choose to take part in our student booth at the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair, where you can set appointments with publishers to show them your portfolio and dummy books, as well as attending lectures, workshops, and parties.