Illustration is an important part of our visual heritage and culture. From childhood and throughout our lives, illustration helps us all make sense of a complicated world. It is a communication tool that entertains, describes, inspires, explains and educates. As an illustrator, you will be called on to create imaginary but believable worlds as the visual stimulus for entertainment, education or persuasion. These worlds can be brought to life on anything from the printed page to the digital screen, including diverse and unexpected places within the urban landscape in advertising, murals or other installations.This inspiring course explores both traditional and high-tech approaches to picture making and visual communication. You will participate in a wide range of workshops and projects that will encourage you to develop a unique visual language and personal style, before applying it to a range of outcomes such as: graphic novels, picture books, zines and small press publications, maps, prints and more. Throughout this broad-based course, you’ll focus on drawing and image-making processes that create imaginative and innovative ways to communicate to a variety of audiences.

A range of expert visiting practitioners contribute to the course. These have included award winning Illustrators: Clive Hicks-Jenkins, Jonny Hannah, Rebecca Gibbon, Matthew Richardson, Laura Carlin, Ian Murray, Geoffrey Grandfield, war artist Xavier Pick and master printmakers Charles Shearer and Nick Morley. Live project briefs will challenge you to apply your skills in new and interesting ways. In recent years, HCA students have also gained great exposure and experience at Hay Festival – providing large format illustrations, and delivering workshops to the public.

The majority of our graduates enter employment within the creative sector as freelance illustrators or designers. Some form small group partnerships to share knowledge, skills and resources and support each other as they develop their practice, whilst others gravitate to postgraduate study or towards teaching.

1. Small group teaching in a friendly studio environment.2. Regular drawing classes and print workshops.3. Individual workspaces that you can make your own.4. Exceptional access to tutorial support and expert technical advice.5. Inspiring, high profile visiting practitioners.6. Develop your own visual language and evolve a unique style.