A series of free online events with world-renowned illustrators is on offer throughout November 2021 as part of The Northern School of Art‘s award-winning The Northern Festival of Illustration.

We will be joined by friends from the world of illustration including Aardman Animation, (the image above is from their Emmy award-winning production ‘Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom’) and The Association of Illustrators.

The events are listed below. To reserve your free virtual space click the BOOK HERE links beside each talk you would like to attend.

• Sam Horton, Aardman Academy (pictured above) – Storyboarding Masterclass (60 min Talk followed by Q&A). 16th November 2021 at 2pm – BOOK HERESam Horton works for Aardman Academy and many other international names and has worked on boards for features, CGI, games and much more.  he will share his tips and tell us how he got where he is today! Plus he will explore the difference between ‘boarding for animation and film.

• Mark Hewis, Head of the Aardman Academy (pictured above) – Diversity & Inclusivity in Animation (60 min Talk followed by Q&A). 23rd November 2021 at 2pm - BOOK HERE 

Mark is the Head of the Aardman Academy and has experience across the industry.  Mark is a filmmaker whose work includes international award-winning films for the Arts Council, Channel 4 and BBC. His first feature film, 8 Minutes Idle was released in 2014 for BFI, BBC Films, Matador and Arthur Cox. The film gained a theatrical release and was shown on streaming services around the world.  Mark is passionate about inclusion and he will make the case for inclusion in the animation and film industry.

• Niel Bushnell (pictured above) – From Blake’s 7 to Dr Who – a life in British Sci-Fi. 24th November 2021 at 2pm – BOOK HERE 

Niel Bushnell (who is a Senior Lecturer in Illustration and Animation at The Northern School of Art, you may have heard of him!) is a writer, illustrator and animator who has worked on some of the classics of British Sci-fi.

• Gaining Work after the Pandemic – Panel Discussion – 25th November 2021 at 2pm – BOOK HERE

Ren Renwick (pictured above), Chief Executive of the AOI,  chairs a panel discussion with views from practising illustrators and the world of publishing.