MA Illustration portfolio guide

You'll need this guide if you're applying to MA Illustration.

What to include in your portfolio

As applicants are from many different backgrounds, we don’t prescribe an ideal portfolio. However, your artwork examples should demonstrate an ability and aptitude towards illustration.

Artwork examples should include:

images from your sketchbooks, along with drawings and/or work in progress to show your working methods; we’d like to see experimentation and evidence of your various skills
finished illustrations with a brief description, which could include single images or image sequences
a range of media and outcomes – but you should have some examples of completed work resolved to a high level
self-generated projects that comment on a social issue

Your portfolio must include:

working methods (sketchbook or other)
finished illustrations, with short description about the project and materials used

Your portfolio may include:

painting and drawing
digital illustration
printmaking
children’s book illustration
zines
graphic novels
textiles
3D work
animation
storyboards
experimentation – roughs and drafts
sketchbook work and/or work in progress
college or self-generated projects

What we’re looking for

We want your portfolio to demonstrate your:

understanding of illustration and its application in a wider social and global context
projects that are socially aware
ability to express your creative process, decision making and idea realisation
ability to reflect on what is, and is not, successful about your work
interest in researching historical and contemporary visual culture

Your portfolio should evidence:

enquiry, research and observations
original idea generation
conceptual development
experimental work
a good level of technical ability (both traditional and digital)
an ability to select and present a range of work to a high professional standard