Illustration
Illustration that belongs in the book.
Children’s books, maps, diagrams and specialist artwork need more than decorative images.
Quill & Reed works with specialist illustrators and manages the process from brief to final production files.
How do I find an illustrator for my book?
Start by defining the type of illustration, style, number of images, intended audience and publication format. A good illustrator should be matched to the book rather than selected only because their work looks attractive. Quill & Reed can help brief, commission and manage suitable illustrators for relevant projects.
When it is needed
When a book may need illustration.
- Children’s picture books
- Chapter-book illustrations
- Fantasy maps
- Historical maps
- Technical diagrams
- Educational books
- Cookbooks
- Selected memoir and non-fiction
- Custom cover art
- Graphic elements
- Specialist visual storytelling
Most novels, memoirs and non-fiction books do not need interior illustration. If yours does not, we will not suggest it.
Children’s books
Children’s book illustration.
Considerations include age group, page count, visual storytelling, character consistency, colour palette, spread composition, text placement, trim size, bleed and how the cover integrates with the interior.
A picture book may need illustration across most of the book, so it always needs a bespoke quote.
Maps and world-building
Fantasy maps, fictional locations, historical maps and journey maps. A good map supports readability and world-building — helping readers follow the story — rather than existing as decoration alone.
Technical and informational illustration
Diagrams, processes, educational graphics, technical explanations, maps and labelled illustrations. Where accuracy matters, a subject review may be required.
Illustrators
Matching the illustrator to the book.
Quill & Reed works with and continues to build a carefully selected network of illustrators, including children’s illustrators, fantasy and speculative illustrators, graphic and comic artists, map illustrators and technical illustrators.
An illustrator is chosen because their work suits the book and its readers, not only because it looks attractive.
The brief
What a good illustration brief includes.
- The manuscript or relevant sections
- Intended reader
- Style references
- Number of illustrations
- Colour requirements
- Format and trim size
- Deadlines
- Character notes
- Recurring visual elements
- Usage rights
You approve each stage.
- Brief
- Style direction
- Rough concepts
- Your feedback
- Revisions
- Final artwork
- Production preparation
Revisions follow an agreed process set out in the commission; they are not unlimited.
Rights
Artwork rights are agreed before work begins.
Your manuscript copyright stays with you. Rights to commissioned artwork depend on the agreement with the illustrator: what you can use the artwork for, where, and for how long.
Those terms are agreed as part of the commission, and we make them clear before any work begins. Copyright in artwork does not transfer automatically unless it is agreed.
AI and illustration
Where AI fits, and where it does not.
AI-assisted visual tools may be useful in early concept exploration where appropriate. But final artwork needs quality control, consistency matters, and rights and retailer platform requirements matter.
Many books benefit from a human illustrator, and children’s publishing in particular depends on coherent visual storytelling across every page. AI illustration is not our core service.
Quotes and approval
How specialist work is priced.
Specialist work is quoted separately where it is not included in your package. The quote includes Quill & Reed’s coordination and project-management role, and you see and approve the final price before anything is commissioned.
No vague fees, no “enhancement” add-ons, and no work you do not need.
Illustration quotes depend on the number of illustrations, complexity, style, colour, revisions, rights, format and deadlines. There is no generic flat price. If you already have an illustrator, we can work with them instead.
How specialist work flows
One point of contact, from brief to production.
You deal with Quill & Reed throughout. We handle the briefing, coordination, quality control, revisions, timelines and final delivery.
- Identify what the book actually needs.
- Define the brief.
- Select the right specialist.
- Agree scope and cost.
- Specialist completes the work.
- Quill & Reed manages feedback and quality.
- You approve the final result.
- Final assets move into production.
How we work with specialists
Good books need different skills.
An excellent editor is not automatically an excellent illustrator. A brilliant illustrator is not automatically a production designer.
Quill & Reed’s job is not to pretend one person can perform every role. It is to bring the right expertise into the project when the book genuinely needs it — through a carefully selected network of collaborators that we work with and continue to build.
How we work with specialistsIllustration questions
How much does book illustration cost?
It depends on the number of illustrations, complexity, style, colour, revisions, rights, format and deadlines. There is no sensible flat price, so each project is quoted.
How many illustrations does my children’s book need?
It depends on the age group and format. A picture book is often illustrated on most spreads; a chapter book may need only occasional images. We help work this out as part of the brief.
Can I choose the style?
Yes. You help set the style direction, and we match the illustrator to it and to the reader.
Do I own the artwork?
It depends on the agreement with the illustrator. Rights and permitted usage are agreed as part of the commission and made clear before work begins. Copyright does not transfer automatically unless that is agreed.
Can I use my own illustrator?
Yes. We can work with your illustrator and help make sure the files meet production requirements.
Can illustration be added after formatting?
It is possible but usually inefficient. Illustrations affect layout, page count and trim, so they are best planned before the interior is designed.
Do I need a different illustrator for the cover?
Not necessarily. For children’s books the cover often works best in the same style as the interior. For other books, cover design and cover illustration may be different skills.
Can you help with maps?
Yes — fantasy and fictional-world maps, historical maps and journey maps.
Can you help with technical diagrams?
Yes. Where accuracy matters, a subject review may be needed as part of the process.
Do you use AI-generated artwork?
Not as our core service. AI tools may help in early concept exploration where appropriate, but final artwork needs quality control, consistency and clear rights, and many books — especially children’s books — benefit from a human illustrator.