Belated Back to School

Starting the Children's Book Illustration MA at Cambridge School of Art

I am still a little in shock to find myself living inside my own dream of studying the Children’s Book Illustration MA at Cambridge School of Art! Pinch me!

I started the MA in September with a really lovely group of people on the part-time course, travelling up to Cambridge once a week for a hugely busy and inspiring Wednesday of learning and inspiration and creating.

It has been so interesting to try different techniques and materials and hugely rewarding to push myself both when in Cambridge and also during the week - there’s plenty to be getting on with from home! There are of course harder days, where the imposter syndrome hits hard, or I feel like I’m not making the progress I’d hoped but I feel enormously grateful to have been given this opportunity and I am really loving it!

Spending time with other illustrators and sharing our thoughts and work is so valuable as are the tutorials and feedback from the wonderful encouraging lecturers. I really look forward to the end of each week where everyone shares their work - its always amazing to me the wide range of results that can be seen from the same brief!

The first module was concerned with observational drawing, initially without colour, and it has definitely helped me to shrug off some of my drawing out-and-about nerves. It definitely helps to be with other people - so I would really encourage you to find a friend or two to go with if this is something you find intimidating.

We have now started the second module, which is based around sequential image and we have already learned so much in the first few weeks! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

To see the beautiful work by students on the MA, look up @CSACBI and the hashtags #csacbi #macbi on Instagram and also check out this year’s graduate work at www.cambridgemashow or in person at the graduate show which is taking place 18-22 February, Unit 9 Copeland Gallery, London (near Peckham Rye Station).