Illustrator matching
We show you portfolio samples from several illustrators so you can pick a style, whether watercolor, digital, line art or something else.
Book Illustration
Book Illustration Services for Picture Books and Beyond
Pictures carry half the story in a children's book and add depth to many others. Our illustrators work closely with you from rough sketches to finished, print-ready art.
Project plan · Illustrations
- Manuscript and style
- 2Characters and sketches
- 3Final artwork
- 4Files and layout
- One project manager, start to finish
- You approve every stage
- Free consultation, no obligation
What illustration includes
Character design
Your main characters are designed first and approved as reference sheets, so they look the same on every page.
Sketches before color
You approve rough pencil layouts for each page before any finished art is painted, which keeps revisions quick and cheap.
Page layout with text
For picture books, we lay out the art with room for your text, keeping key details away from the gutter and trim.
Maps and interior art
We draw detailed fantasy maps, chapter header art and diagrams that print cleanly in black and white or color.
Print-ready preparation
Final art is delivered at print resolution with proper bleed, in the color profile your printer needs.
Why authors work with us
A good result depends as much on the working relationship as on the craft.
Specialists matched to your book
We pair you with people who work in your genre and format, not whoever happens to be free.
Nothing goes out without your yes
You review drafts and proofs at every stage and ask for changes before anything is final.
One person to talk to
A dedicated project manager answers your questions and keeps the delivery date agreed at the start.
One team for every step
Editing, design, publishing and promotion happen under one roof, so nothing is lost between hand-offs.
Who our illustration service is for
Whether you need thirty full spreads or a single map, we match you with an illustrator whose style suits the book.
- Parents, teachers and first-time authors writing a children's picture book
- Chapter book and middle-grade writers who want spot illustrations
- Fantasy and historical fiction authors who need a detailed map
- Nonfiction authors who need diagrams or interior artwork
- Authors who want a recurring character designed for a series
How an illustration project works
Manuscript and style
We read your text, discuss the look you want and match you with an illustrator.
Characters and sketches
You approve character designs, then rough sketches for every illustration.
Final artwork
The illustrator completes the color or ink art, with revision rounds at each stage.
Files and layout
We prepare print and ebook files, and lay out the full book if you need it.
What you receive
- Character reference sheets
- Approved sketch set for every page
- Final illustrations as high-resolution TIFF or PNG at 300 DPI
- Layered source files on request
- Print-ready picture book interior PDF, if layout is included
- Written transfer of rights for use in your book and its marketing
Book illustration packages
Illustration is priced by the number of images, the level of detail and whether pages are full spreads or spot art.
Map or Spot Art
From $299
A single map or a set of small interior pieces.
- One detailed map or up to five spot illustrations
- Sketch approval stage
- Print-ready files
- Most popular
Picture Book
From $2,499
Fully illustrated children's picture book.
- Up to 16 full-page illustrations
- Character design sheets
- Cover illustration
Picture Book + Layout
From $3,499
Illustration plus a finished, publishable book.
- Up to 32 pages illustrated
- Text layout and typesetting
- Print and ebook files
Starting prices in USD. Your written quote is the price you pay.
Illustrations questions, answered
A standard 32-page picture book usually has 12 to 16 spreads or around 24 to 32 single-page illustrations, depending on the layout.
Get a free consultation
Tell us about your book and what you need. We'll reply with a plan, a timeline and a written quote. Everything you share is kept confidential.
Prefer to talk? +44 7366 843137