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Don’t wait to get hired. “Pick up a book, read it, and illustrate it. Build a strong portfolio and start approaching agents and publishers,” says fantasy illustrator Rohan Eason. “Create your own books to illustrate, or choose random books from the library and bring them to life with illustrations. Offer your services for free to new authors, do anything you can to practise. There are no quick tips for book illustration. But developing your own working practice will help.”

Dave Seeley agrees. “Assign yourself your dream job and execute it,” he says. “Then market that image by submitting to illustration annuals, web media, competitions, and so on. Seek exposure for your art.”