My journey towards becoming an author and illustrator was reasonably straightforward in the sense that I always wanted to pursue art or writing as a career, so I studied art at school before doing a degree in illustration, which is where I began taking on freelance work for magazines, newspapers and private commissions. My first traditionally published book was actually How to Build a City, written by Isabel Otter, who also edited TIMID, and we first met at an illustration fair in Kings Cross back in 2017 or 2018. At the time, that book was the biggest illustration project I had taken on, and part of what inspired me to focus on children’s books rather than other forms of illustration. After that, I created what would eventually become Grandad’s Camper as part of my university dissertation, and actually signed with my agent as a result of winning a competition on Twitter! As a result I preface any tips about getting into illustration by pointing out how much this industry relies on coincidence, and how often that coincidence in turn relies on other factors which disadvantage many groups of people, such as being in the position mentally, physically and financially to engage in formal learning environments, to proactively seek out potential clients, and to be in close proximity of London or other cities with large publishing or illustration communities. Nevertheless, my main tips would be to embrace experimentation, to build your illustrative practice around a healthy, sustainable process rather than the most beautiful or impressive outcome, and to build inspiring, meaningful connections with other creatives in whatever way feels most comfortable for you. I would also say that your unique viewpoint and experiences are part of what makes your work special, so do not feel obliged to compromise or dilute them for the comfort or benefit of anyone else! More practical things would be to join an association or union such as the Society of Authors. Good places to search for agents include the Writers & Artists Yearbook, and many are also active on social media, though it’s always advisable to follow submission guidelines on their websites rather than sending DMs!