WORLD ILLUSTRATION AWARDS: INTERVIEW WITH BILLY PARTRIDGE, SOCIETY OF ARTISTS’ AGENTS (SAA) AWARD NEW TALENT WINNER 2023

As part of his win, Billy Partridge has been mentored by Arena Illustration for more than 6 months. We catch up and ask him how he is getting on.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your practice as an illustrator?

I’m a UK based illustrator, mainly working within the publishing sector at present. My work often revolves around characters (mostly of the slightly bizarre kind) and the sometimes mythical worlds they inhabit. Earlier this year I completed my debut picture book, ‘HUPO and the Wonder Thief’, which is due for release spring next year with Flying Eye Books, and am currently working on a number of other fun publishing projects!

How has winning the SAA Award helped to tackle your goals and develop your practice? 

Winning an award has been incredibly helpful for me in a way that I think only this particular award (the SAA award could be). So far, it has been an incredibly insightful learning experience, and I’ve come to a much stronger understanding of how my work fits into the market, and where to go looking for jobs that will suit it. Caroline from Arena agency has been instrumental in steering me through this process, and I look forward to continuing down this path.

It’s also been fantastic having my work shown to publishers who I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to contact, and Caroline’s knowledge of the industry has allowed me to tailor my portfolio better to what’s currently in demand.

Can you tell us about any forthcoming projects or your future plans? 

I’m currently in the process of creating HUPO 2, in which the characters find themselves in a whole new battle. Expect lots of action, emotion, and the odd meme-able expression from Hupo. I’m also developing picture book and older reader concepts which should be the beginnings of some really cool projects! An area I’m really enjoying expanding into alongside this is visual development, mostly character design in particular. I’ve previously created concepts for Spinmaster Entertainment (of Paw Patrol fame), and am currently pitching with a studio on a commerical project which is all very hush hush for now.

What commission would be your dream commission? 

I think my absolute dream commission would be to create my own animated television series, something along the lines of Adventure Time or any of the crazy Old School Cartoon Network shows. I’m currently in the process of building a pitch for such a series alongside some really lovely producers over in LA, so never say never! It would also be great to tackle some big commercial jobs in the coming years, as I love the possibilities offered by these sorts of projects.

What would your advice be for illustrators who might be thinking about entering this year’s Awards?

My advice? Do it! It’s a great way to put yourself out there, particularly if that’s not something you’re used to doing. Ultimately, it’s going to get your work seen by a lot of new people, and it can’t hurt to give it a good airing. Choose a piece that you feel particularly proud of and use it as your way of putting yourself forward and introducing yourself. In many ways, winning an award is just a bonus.

The SAA Associate Prize for New Talent in Illustration at New Designers 2018, Part 2 July 4 – 7

The Society of Artists Agents (SAA) is delighted to be working in partnership with New Designers 2018. Catch a glimpse of our creative future with designs by over 3,000 breakthrough talents under one roof at New Designers, representing every area of visionary design across two weeks, from 27-30 June & 4-7 July.

(more…)

The SAA Associate Prize for New Talent in Illustration at New Designers 2017, Part 2

Photographs © Mark Cocksedge

New Designers 2017 - The Graduate Exhibition for Emerging Design

Part 2: 05 - 08 July (Awards Preview 05 July)

The SAA are delighted to be working with New Designers 2017 the exhibition that brings together design education, design consumers and the design industry to celebrate and recognise and the next generation of graduate designers. We believe in nurturing new illustration new talent through our educational programme and, for the second year in a row, we are very proud to offer The SAA Associate Prize for New Talent in Illustration at New Designers Part 2.

This award will be given to a graduate specialising in Illustration who is judged to have created the most fresh and inspiring work within the Visual Communication zone at the show. The prize will be a career-making six months trial representation by one of the SAA’s member agents which will include mentoring and career development. Four SAA member agents will be judging on Thursday 6th July.

Last year, the winning graduate of our Associate Prize went to Oscar Mitchell from Falmouth University and he is now represented by SAA Member Agent, Illustration Ltd. The judges felt that Oscar’s work really stood out and his visual language had a maturity of line and colour that could be applied to various sectors.

New Designers provides students with the chance to gain valuable jobs, internships, work placements, network and make contacts with design industry experts. Not only this, but the show offers tutors, courses and Universities exposure and marketing opportunities to promote themselves to the next generation of students that visit the show from all over the UK and enjoy focused schools’ activities.

Showcasing the fresh-thinking of over 3,000 innovative design graduates, New Designers provides an essential pipeline of new talent into the UK’s creative industries. It’s a must-visit if you want to see new trends and innovation, recruit new talent for your business or just to feel inspired.

New Designers is at Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH.

Ticket information can be found on the New Designers website here. You can book your tickets online now.

*£1.50 booking fee applies per advance ticket purchase

The SAA Associate Prize for New Talent in Illustration at New Designers 2016, Part 2

New Designers 2016 - The exhibition for emerging design
Part 1: 29 June – 02 July (Awards Preview 29 June)
Part 2: 06 -09 July (Awards Preview 06 July)

The Society of Artists Agents (SAA) are delighted to be working in partnership with New Designers 2016.

SAA Member Agents

The SAA is a group of like-minded Agents who collectively represent nearly 1000 World Class illustrators. We believe in promoting the use of quality illustration and nurturing new illustration talent through our educational programme and this year we are very proud to offer The SAA Associate Prize for New Talent in Illustration at New Designers Part 2.

(more…)

UAL Enterprise Week: The Business of Illustration & Animation Q&A

After the success of our Business of Illustration Q&A at New Designers this year, we are pleased to announce that we are doing another panel discussion at London College of Communication on Monday 16th November. In collaboration with Own-it, a service of the University of Arts London(UAL) Careers and Employability, and the Association of Illustrators we have put together a panel consisting of a diverse range of experts to share their experiences and provide practical tips for illustration and animation students who want to start a freelance career. For Creative Enterprise Week, students from LCC, Central Saint Martins and Camberwell College of Arts will be given a unique insight into the various industry sectors that commission illustration and animation, the commissioning process, a basic understanding of contracts and the importance of protecting their copyright.

The Business of Illustration and Animation Q&A
4 - 5pm, Monday 16 November
Street Lecture Theatre, London College of Communication, Elephant & Castle

The Panel:

Chair Person: Derek Brazell – The Association of Illustrators Projects Manager, Varoom Publisher, writer and illustrator

Val Brathwaite - Design Director at Bloomsbury Publishing.

Bill Greenhead - Illustrator, animator and writer (represented by Illustration ltd).

Daniel Moorey - Head of Photography and Illustration at adamandeve DDB.

Matt Curtis - Art Director at Sunday Times Magazine.

Caroline Thomson - Director of Arena Illustration, SAA member agent, illustrator.

Andrew Coningsby - Managing Director of Début Art and Coningsby Gallery, SAA member agent, AOI chairperson.

Many thanks to all the panelists who have generously given their time to help at this event.

Creative Enterprise Week is free to all University of the Arts London students, graduates and staff - you can book your place at The Business of Illustration and Animation Q&A here.

ND Talk: The Business of Illustration – Question Time with The SAA and The AOI

We are delighted to be taking part in the New Designers (Part Two) Talk Programme this year. We will be holding a Q&A panel discussion with the help of The Association of Illustrators (AOI) about:

The Business of Illustration: 

For those about to embark on a creative career, be prepared to be a business and BE SMART. For a profitable and sustained career as a freelance illustrator you must be prepared to tackle a wide range of specialisms including financial know-how, negotiation of terms, fees, contracts and PR & Marketing. Here's your chance to ask the experts about the Business of Illustration.  

The Panel: 

Chair Person: Derek Brazell - The Association of Illustrators Projects Manager and Varoom Publisher. Agents: Caroline Thomson - Arena Illustration, Andrew Coningsby - Début Art, Victoria Pearce - Illustration Ltd and Claire Meiklejohn - Meiklejohn.

The Business of Illustration Question Time will be held in the Talk Theatre at Business Design Centre on Friday 3rd July, from 2pm to 2.45pm.

Book your FREE ticket on the New Designers website.

Arts Thread Portfolio Reviews at New Designers

New Designers - The Exhibition for Emerging Talent

It's Degree Show time again and this year, the SAA have partnered up with Arts Thread at New Designers and will be offering our expertise in reviewing illustration graduates portfolios. So if you're exhibiting at New Designers 2015, here's a brilliant opportunity to sign up for the FREE portfolio reviews with the experts. We'll be at New Designers 2015 Part 2 from Thursday 3rd July to Saturday 5th at the Business Design Centre, London N1 0QH - see you there!

Participating Agents:

A guide to commissioning: from brief to contract by Caroline Thomson 13.30 – 15.00, Wednesday 19 November

Artsmart Portfolios Surgeries and Talk

Artsmart 2014
Artsmart is a Graduate Show for University of the Arts London Creative Graduates.

23^rd June

University of the Arts London, 272 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EY

Time slots:

10 – 11.45am Christine Isteed (Artist Partners)

11.45 to 1.30pm Nicky Lander (Bright)

1.30 to 3.15 Claire Meiklejohn (Meiklejohn)

3.15 to 5pm - Alice Ball (Illustration)

Participating agents:

Nicky Lander, Agent at Bright - http://www.thebrightagency.com

Nicky has worked within publishing for the last 8 years, both as a client and an agent – she is passionate and enthusiastic about all things creative and loves working alongside illustrators to help them develop in their careers.

Alice Ball, Agent at Illustration ltd - http://www.illustrationweb.com

Alice has worked in top London ad agencies, studied psychology and trained in primary teaching. A passion for art allows her as an Illustration Limited agent to effectively match talent to briefs and establish good client and English/German artist relationships.

Christine Isteed, Agent at Artist Partners - http://www.artistpartners.com

Christine Isteed is the agent behind the renown agency Artist Partners, established in the early 1950’s and  representing exciting artists and image makers working with magazines, advertising agencies, design groups and publishing clients!

Claire Meiklejohn – Agent at Meiklejohn and New Division - http://www.meiklejohn.co.uk/ / http://www.newdivision.com/
Claire is the driving force behind the Meiklejohn and New Division illustration agencies. Claire’s focus is managing advertising and design commissions and developing the portfolios of the agencies’ artists.

For further information and to book an appointment please visit the Artsmart website: http://artsmartlondon.co.uk/event/portfolio-industry-advice-one-to-ones

Talk

A guide to commissioning - from brief to contract

1.00-2.30pm, Tuesday 24th June

University of the Arts London, 272 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EY

Speaker profile:

Caroline Thomson, Arena Illustration http://arenaillustration.com

Caroline studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Norwich School of Art and gained a Masters in Illustration at the University of Brighton. After a ten year career as a freelance illustrator, she joined Arena Illustration as a rep in 2001, going on to become co-director in 2005. Caroline is also Chair Person of the Society of Artists Agents (SAA).

To book please visit the Artsmart website: http://artsmartlondon.co.uk/event/creative-commissions-a-guide-from-brief-to-contract

SAA at New Designers

CALLING ALL ILLUSTRATORS!!

Come and visit us at New Designers stand B14!

2nd - 5th July 2014, Business Design Centre, London, N1 0QH

We will be holding portfolio surgeries at our stand on Thursday 3rd July and Friday 4th July,

and taking part in the New Designers Talk Programme on Thursday 3rd July

Below are the details of the lectures we will be giving .

We highly recommend to book in advance via http://www.newdesigners.com/talks2 as capacity for each event is limited

For any further information, please visit newdesigners.com or contact membershipsecretary@thesaa.com

10.30am-11.15am

Illustrators' Agents: The Lowdown A good agent is there to facilitate and help everybody in the creative process, represented illustrators & clients alike - hopefully making everyone happy by negotiating the best & fairest deals all round.  Led by Victoria Pearce, Senior Agent at Illustration Ltd, this session will cover: - The benefits of representation - What are the options? – different styles of agencies - How to find the right representation - Contracts uncovered - How to positively manage your relationship with your agent book now

11.30am-12.15pm

How to be a Successful Illustrator and Get Ahead Vicki Willden-Lebrecht, Founder of Bright Group International, takes a look at how you can go about developing the right attitude and approach to work in order to become a successful illustrator.  How can you forge good relationships with your clients? What is good working practice? How is best to handle yourself and ultimately your brand? book now