First Year
• Drawing in contemporary illustration styles
• Creative processes and visualisation
• Exploring concept art and narrative in illustration
• Visual culture & communication

Second Year
• Innovation in illustration
• Exploring and application of non-narrative illustration
• Visual culture theory
• Negotiated commercial application

Final Year
• Project research and preparation
• Dissertation/Report
• Final Major Project
• Final Show & Portfolio

Our school engages with a wide range of partners working across each creative sub-sector to ensure that teaching and learning are in line with the latest developments in and requirements of industry, including:

Tim Searle
Tim has over 30 years experience of developing, directing and producing award-winning animation. He has written, designed, animated, ‘boarded, edited, produced, directed, and of course made the tea. His animation credits include Mr Bean, Dangermouse, and Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed.
imdb.com

Aardman Animation
Aardman Animation is employee-owned and exists for the benefit of its workforce and the industry they are passionate about. The Aardman Academy is one pillar of Aardman Animation set up to nurture talent and to build sustainable careers They are committed to encouraging talent into the industry by delivering world-class animated-related courses and working with institutions like The School. Working with the Academy gives us access to talented members of the whole Aardman Animation team from animators through haracter developers and story board artists. Film director Mark Hewlis, Head of Aardman Academy, has told us “You can’t create something digitally until you know how it works in the real world.”
academy.aardman.com

Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell, OBE is the popular multi-award winning illustrator and author of children's books and a political cartoonist for the Observer. He has won three Kate Greenaway Medals – an unprecedented achievement in the history of this annual award for the best-illustrated children's book. He held the position of Childrens’ Laureate in 2015/16. He is a long-term friend of The Northern and The Northern Festival of Illustration and was the Valedictory Speaker at our 2017 Graduation Ceremony.

Darren Yeomans
Daren is the Studio Director at Atomhawk Design Ltd. Atomhawk is an international operation, known as a world leading art and design studio. They create concept art, UI/UX design, motion graphics and marketing art for games, film and digital media. They have been involved with some fantastic products including:
- Avengers Age of Ultron, - Guardians of the Galaxy, - THOR II "Dark World" - Mortal Kombat (2009), and many others.
Darren and artists from the studio have worked with the school for several years.
atomhawk.com

Sam Arthur
Sam is the co-founder of the publishing house NoBrow/Flying Eye Books. After 10 years directing music videos, commercials and short films, he set up Nobrow with business partner Alex Spiro. In 2013 they launched Flying Eye Books our dedicated children's book imprint. Sam is CEO of Nobrow Ltd which has offices in London and New York, and Deputy Chair of the Board of Directors of the AOI (Association of Illustrators) as well as Festival Director of ELCAF (East London Comic Arts Festival). Sam has supported The Northern Festival of Illustration.
nobrow.net

Keith Opie
Keith is Director and Senior Creative Artist at Paul Windle Design. Apparently he is a “Colour rendering magician and the artist responsible for the sprinkling of our ‘magic fairy dust’ over every piece of work that leaves the studio” Paul Windle Design is a studio of choice for renowned global brands including The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros, Ravensburger, and TOMY. The studio works on projects as diverse as 3D Design; Branding; Character Creation; Concept art; Game ; Packaging and Product Development
paulwindledesign.co.uk

We exhibit in places such as:
• The Coningsby Gallery
• The House of Blah Blah
• The Festival of Illustration
• Ernest
• Childrens Media Conference
• Truman Brewery (Degree Show)

Students have the opportunity to work with a range of companies on live briefs throughout the programme.

Including:
• Nobrow Publishing
• Flying Eye Books publisher
• Rockpool Children’s Books publisher
• One and Other magazine
• Running Man
• Urban Outfitters
• Wylam Brewery craft beers
• Atomhawk concept design
• Pavilion Books publisher

The Northern School of Art is the home of the award-winning bi-annual The Northern Festival of Illustration and The Northern Illustration Prize. This festival offers our students a chance for you to mix with, and be inspired by, some of the best-known illustrators from across the globe.

Visit the festival website for more information: www.thefestivalofillustration.com

Your portfolio is a visual statement it says a lot about an applicant and their practice. The advice below is not meant to be restrictive but rather offers some simple advice to help you prepare for your interview.

What we like to see
Drawing with a variety of tools and using a variety of mark making techniques. Experimentation with media that shows you are open to trying new ways of working that aren’t always successful but can lead to positive outcomes.

Show how you generate ideas & research
How do you look to other artists, illustrators and genres and relate that back to your own practice?

Drawing
This can include: pencil, ink, charcoal, pen – any tool or medium from any subject.

Sketchbooks
Lots of them on any subject.