Illustrator CV example

An illustrator’s CV should be as polished and compelling as their artwork. This guide takes you through each step, from structuring and writing your CV to crafting content that highlights your artistic expertise, technical skills, and industry experience. 

By the end, you’ll have a CV that showcases your talents as clearly as a well-composed illustration – without needing a revision request.

Your CV structure should ensure that recruiters can find your key skills and experience at a glance – because let’s face it, nobody likes an overcrowded composition, especially in a CV.

Here’s the structure to follow:

• Name and personal details – Keep contact details at the top, with an optional photo of yourself, so clients and employers can reach you easily.
• Profile – Open with a strong summary that highlights your expertise in illustration, design, and visual storytelling.
• Core skills – Provide a quick snapshot of your most relevant artistic and technical skills, such as digital illustration, concept art, or branding.
• Work experience – Present your employment history in reverse chronological order, focusing on key projects and achievements.
• Education – List your degrees and certifications in order from most recent to oldest.
• Additional info – You could optionally include professional memberships, awards, exhibitions, or relevant hobbies and interests.

A recruiter’s first impression of your CV should be that it’s clean, well-organised, and easy to scan – just like good composition in an illustration. If your layout is chaotic and full of mistakes, it won’t reflect well on your attention to detail.

Ensure a quality CV format with these tips:

• Bullet points – Use them to keep your experience clear and readable.
• Divide sections – Structure your CV logically so recruiters can navigate it easily.
• Use a clear and readable font – Choose a professional, easy-to-read font instead of an overly decorative one.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it concise while ensuring you cover all key qualifications and experience – any more length is unnecessary.

Your CV profile (or personal statement, if you’re low on experience) is your chance to make an impact right away. This brief introduction at the top of your CV should highlight your strongest skills and experience as an illustrator.

Tailor it to the job, ensuring you reflect what the employer is looking for in your CV profile. Think of it as the focal point of your CV – it needs to grab attention and set the tone.

A strong profile should include the following:

• Where you’ve worked – Mention whether you’ve worked in publishing, advertising, gaming, animation, or as a freelancer.
• Your top qualifications – If you have a degree in Illustration, Fine Arts, or Graphic Design, highlight it here.
• Key illustration skills – Whether it’s character design, editorial illustration, or concept art, highlight your specialisms.
• Software expertise – Employers want illustrators who can work digitally, so mention your proficiency in tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate.
• Unique artistic strengths – If you specialise in a particular style, medium, or technique, make sure to mention it.

A core skills section is like a mood board – it gives recruiters a quick sense of what you bring to the table before they dive into the details.

This section should be tailored to the specific role, ensuring the skills listed match the job description.

Your work experience section is where you prove you’re more than just talent – you’re a professional. A portfolio shows what you can create, but this section shows how you do it (and that you meet deadlines without ghosting clients halfway through a project).

List your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you don’t have a long work history, include relevant freelance projects, internships, or personal commissions.

• Outline – Introduce the company, studio, or client you worked for and the nature of the work you did. Mention if it was for print, digital, animation, or branding.
• Responsibilities – Describe the tasks you handled, such as creating concept sketches, illustrating marketing materials, or designing book covers. Use action words like “designed”, “illustrated”, and “developed”.
• Achievements – Show measurable results where possible. Did your work increase audience engagement? Were your illustrations featured in a major campaign? Use numbers and outcomes where relevant.

Your education section should list any formal qualifications related to illustration, design, or fine arts. It should be brief, as artistic talent doesn’t come from a degree alone. This section should back up your skills, not overshadow them like a client’s so-called ‘small revisions’ request. 

If you’re early in your career, highlight relevant coursework, workshops, or competitions that demonstrate your artistic development.

List your qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.