Robin Howlett

Robin Howlett has been working as a designer and illustrator since 1984 and won first prize as Young Animator of the Year in a BBC/UN/ASIFA joint sponsored international competition.

She now concentrates on freelance illustration, specialising in art deco and all of her work is executed digitally.

It's interesting to note that she is actively seeking commissions from all around the world, and have as a result has worked for the US, Sweden, France, Belgium, Spain, Singapore, Germany, Italy, Cyprus, Australia, Mexico… and others.

As well as illustration, Robin also specialise in designing letter forms and icons for logos, packaging.

http://howlett.eu.com/

Again, i have had a reply from Robin relating to self-promotional work and her life style. Here is her reply to my email:

Hi Nathan Well done for being proactive; but I'm not sure you're going to want to hear what I've got to say… Illustration has become a very tough career.  It is starting to swing around (for me anyway), but the plethora of cheap (some of it very good) photography and illustration available on line has done a lot to put people like us out of a job.  I'm luckier than most, as illustration is a "part-time" job for me.   I studied at Kingston, actually majoring in animation, but couldn't get work in that field as there was nothing about back then.  So I took a job as a visualizer for an ad agency.  From there I built up all my designer skills until I ended up running agencies.  So, first and foremost I am a designer.  The illustration came along when, aged about 45 I sold my agency and went freelance.  My illustration was varied back then – I'd take anything.  After about a year, it became clear that my folio was developing an art deco trend – so I put up a new website, claiming to be an art deco specialist.  It worked wonders, and the work is now all deco.  I have really busy times (the past few months have been good) but I also have very dry times, where I certainly could not live on the money that comes in from illustration alone.   I am lucky, because I supplement my designer income with my illustration.  And that's the trick really – you must find yourself a source of regular income, that gives you the flexibility to do the commissions when they do come in.  With luck, it will grow and one day you might even be able to give up the day job completely.   But you have chosen a tough profession my friend.  If I had one piece of advice it would be SPECIALISE.  Set your site up so that your specialism is really clear to the art directors AND the spiders, (KEYWORDS ARE SO IMPORTANT) then your phone will ring.  Don't just be "an illustrator", because you will be just another one of thousands.   Be flexible, never drop a deadline, be prepared to take some right shit from the clients (they are all better illustrators than you, don't forget) know when to stick up for your vision and when to meekly say "yes, you're right, why didn't I see that?"   My very best wishes to you and I hope that your voyage starts off with a fair wind behind you!   Kindest regards, 
Robin Howlett