In this weeks article we talk to three successful illustrators in the UK for an insight into joining an illustration agency. Johanna Basford, Steven Bonner and Radim Malinic of Brandnu talk to us about the first steps of picking an agency and what you can expect. In part two we talk to the extremely talented and inovative Steven Bonner and his experience of joining an agency.

Steven Bonner

I am a freelance designer and illustrator from Stirling in Scotland. A lot of things inspire and influence me, and they all contradict each other which I think is a good thing. I work with flowing, liquid lines and images with movement, and also geometric structure and grid based uniform. The possibilities of what I can try to achieve drives me to explore new techniques all the time.

http://stevenbonner.com

Which agency are you signed to?
NB Illustration

Did the agency approach you or did you approach them?
I have a good contact in Mister Paul who is also signed to NB, and he’d seen
some of my work and asked if I’d like to be introduced to the agency. I’d
been giving some thought to trying to get representation at the time so said
yes and they next day, I got a call from Charlotte at NB. We had a nice chat
and she said she liked what I was doing and where my style was heading, and
asked me if I wanted to come aboard.

Did you shop around for the right agency?
I’d given it a little thought previously and had researched a few agencies
before speaking to Charlotte, but I knew of NB through various ads and by
reputation, and got a good vibe about them from everyone I spoke to there,
so it felt quite natural to go ahead with them.

How did you have to present your work to them, printed portfolio, interview
or they just looked at you website to start with?
They’d seen some of my work through Mister Paul, and after his
recommendation, they looked over more of my work online. Once I signed on I
sent them a portfolio of printed work though.

How regular do you recieved work from the agency?
When I first signed on, I was warned that it might take a while before I
picked up regular work, as it would take time for me to filter through their
promotional channels, but within a couple on months I’d picked up my first
batch of work. Since then it’s picked up and become reasonably regular and
have had three jobs in the last month alone.

Was joining a agency an important or neccessary step for you to take in your
career?
I don’t think it was necessary, but it’s certainly been a good step for me.
It’s exposed me to clients I’d have struggled to get in touch with on my own
and has exposed me to various opportunities I might never have gotten
otherwise, like winning the Art Book cover competition which is open only to
repped illustrators. I’ve spoken to other illustrators who don’t think
there’s a need for agencies but I honestly think they are a great thing. The
argument against is that some people don’t see why we should give an agency
a percentage of our earnings, but I’ve found that they are so much more
tuned into what to charge for work and understand usage rights and licensing
better. Yes, they take a percentage, but they are in a position to negotiate
better rates and access better clients in the first place so it works out
better for me regardless.

Another important aspect of it for me personally, is that it gave me a sense
of validation about my work. Before being picked up by NB I was still unsure
as to whether I was good enough to make it as an illustrator – I didn’t even
call myself one as I kept thinking I’d be called out by the real pros!
Signing with the agency really gave me confidence in my work and now I
really feel like this is what I’m supposed to be doing.

Does the agency handle costings, quotes, deadlines and clients?
I don’t know about other agencies, but NB handle everything for me -
timesheets, quotes, invoicing, and client liaison if I want that -
personally I like to deal with clients directly. When they get in touch with
me, they discuss costs with me first and always ask my opinion before going
ahead.

In general what do you personally think illustration agencies are looking
for?
I think they are looking for people who offer something a little different -
something that’s marketable and accessible to clients with a certain
definable style. Of course it depends on the agency – some specialise in
certain markets like children’s books or suchlike, but I think you’re work
needs to be recognisable. All my favourite illustrators are people who I can
generally spot a mile away by looking at a thumbnail or detail of their
work. You also need to be professional – the agency needs to know that they
can rely on you to produce the goods when you say you will, and not
disappear at vital times.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steven for his help and in depth and informative information.

In part three will speak to Radim Malinic of Brandnu and his experience with illustration agencies.