If you're a freelance illustrator, it's tempting to focus solely on building relationships with clients and commissioners (the people in charge of the money). However, nurturing a network of fellow illustrators is just as important.
Freelance friends are the people you'll share advice, resources, industry gossip and after-work drinks with. They'll celebrate your successes and lift you up when you hit a bump in the road. Even solo freelancers need creative colleagues to thrive.
Where do you meet other illustrators if you work remotely? Illustration meet-ups are a good place to start! These informal social groups are the perfect place to make like-minded friends in a fun, creative, relaxed setting.
Below is a list of illustrator meet-ups across the UK...
Blend Illo
Location: London
Instagram: @blend_illo
Creative Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Instagram: @creativeedinburgh
Website: creative-edinburgh.com
Crisscross
Location: Norwich
Instagram: @crisscross.norwich
Flock
Location: Brighton
Instagram: @flock_brighton
Hand Drawn & Quartered
Location: Preston
Instagram: @handdrawn.and.quartered
Illo G
Location: Glasgow
Instagram: @illo_g
Illustration Club
Location: Cardiff
Instagram: @illustrationclb
Ladies, Wine & Design
Locations: 285 around the world; including Brighton, Exeter, Bournemouth, Southampton, Cardiff, Bristol, Cheltenham, London, Ipswich, Birmingham, Leicester, Stamford, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, York, Lancaster, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Newcastle and Belfast
Instagram: @ladieswinedesign
Website: ladieswinedesign.com
Picnic
Location: Birmingham
Instagram: @picnic_illo
PIP Illustration
Location: Bristol
Instagram: @pipillustration
Rye Here Rye Now
Location: Peckham, London
Instagram: @ryehereryenow
Special Guest
Location: Peckham
Instagram: @specialguestldn
Website: specialguesthq.com
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