Master of Illustration

I completed my MA in Illustration and Design in September last year, carrying straight on after 3 years of doing the degree course. I was talking recently with a couple of friends who are currently slogging away at their various MA courses about the trials and tribulations of it all, and whether ultimately it was worth all the stress, heartbreak and being financially crippled. In my opinion it was worth every moment (although if you had told me a year ago I would say that I would probably have laughed/cried/screamed in your face/hit you) but then again I think I had a good experience overall, lots of support from family and friends and good guidance from my tutors. In terms of career? Well I don't know about that personally, though I assume it always looks good to have an extra qualification on your CV. But in terms of the confidence in my own work it gave me, completing the course was invaluable. The only real issue I had was the loneliness of not having the group of people who I did the degree with around - I made some of the best friends I've ever had on that course and met some truly talented individuals, and I missed their input, support and just general banter every single day. So to my friends and anyone else who is battling their MA - although it is emotionally and physically exhausting, it will all be worth it in the end. You will be glad you did it. 


I still am... 

In no particular order, a selection of images from my MA project - an illustrated version of Angela Carter's short story 'The Company of Wolves'. I worked by making various stencils and cutouts and flicking ink or acrylic at them with a toothbrush (so high-tech!) then used ink and fineliners for the details, and finally cobbled everything together using photoshop.