Illustration (with integrated foundation year)

To break into the competitive but rewarding illustration industry, you’ll need an exciting portfolio, excellent technical skills and your own unique voice in creatively solving communication problems. So, if you’re looking for an illustration foundation course that will develop your skills and confidence in a supportive, dynamic environment then look no further. Your introductory year will give you the technical expertise and knowledge to progress to our highly respected undergraduate programme.

Following your foundation year, our aim is to inspire you to become an innovative and individual illustrator, graduating with an impressive professional portfolio of work that will lead to commissions or employment. We are members of The Association of Illustrators, partners in The Lakes International Comic Art Festival and will also give you the opportunity to showcase your work in London.

We’ll help you develop essential drawing and compositional skills – something we’ve been congratulated on by commissioning editors and professional illustrators alike – and our unique course will also expand your animation and graphic design skills giving you real career flexibility.

You'll be prepared for the commercial world because we’ll focus on developing your image making skills through exciting, fast-paced, industry-focused projects and you’ll learn from plenty of renowned professional illustrators and comic artists too. This will allow you to graduate with the one thing that all successful illustrators have in common, a highly personal, unique and memorable portfolio.

And, you’ll do it at our beautiful, dedicated arts campus in the vibrant border city of Carlisle, where you’ll be within 20 minutes of Scotland and the stunning Lake District National Park – now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

- Small classes mean we get to know you well and provide plentiful, detailed, personal feedback throughout your studies

- Practical demonstrations, visits and feedback from professional illustrators and comic artists

- We’re members of The Association of Illustrators

- Our excellent industry links give you good networking opportunities, boosting your career prospects and you can also exhibit at a London graduate showcase

- Annual international visits and participation in The Lakes International Comic Art Festival

- Our annual Futures Festival – a three-day event offering you the opportunity to hear from industry professionals, get involved in networking and meet potential employers

- Quality of life – our specialist Arts Campus is set in beautiful parkland just a short walk from Carlisle’s vibrant city centre and don’t forget the Lake District is on our doorstep

- 80% of your studies will be practical; You’re not just learning, you’re doing

- You can use any of our well-equipped workshop facilities including print-making, 3D printing, laser-cutting, photography and animation suites

- Become ‘part of the family’ and create a base in our huge, modern and professionally-equipped studio

- Encouragement to develop your own unique voice and style as an illustrator

- A fantastic, well stocked arts library, so you can keep up-to-date with contemporary illustration practices

- Use the latest technology and software that you’ll use as a real-world professional

- All tutors are experts in illustration, graphic design and typography

You’ll spend a lot of time life drawing, developing a sound understanding of the human figure and we’ll also teach you how composition and colour can bring an illustration to life. You’ll work across a range of traditional and digital media, including drawing, painting, 3D and moving image - and you'll be encouraged to do it at a level hitting industry expectations.

We give you the artistic freedom and training to discover and develop your own unique style, creating work that will help your portfolio stand out from the crowd and gain you commissions.