With nearly 300 illustrations covering the breadth of practice, Illustration: A Theoretical and Contextual Perspective is about communicating visually across a range of subject matter. The author focuses on theory, research, analysing visual language and the contexts of illustration practice.

Illustration practice is not judged purely by visual literacy and technical qualities, but also requires intellectual engagement with its subject matter. Illustration: A Theoretical & Contextual Perspective, 2nd Edition examines the breadth and many uses of this diverse discipline, through nearly 300 colour examples. From developing a brief, conducting research and analysing visual language, the book goes on to explore the role of illustration in documentation, commentary, storytelling, persuasion and identity. It concludes with an overview of current professional practice, demonstrating that the ability to communicate meaningfully and effectively for a global audience is key to navigating today’s creative industries. Examples of work from award-winning illustrators showcase a huge range of applications, from the author’s own collaboration with the British Museum of Natural History and Olivier Kugler’s Portraits of Syrian Refugees in Iraqi Kurdistan, to Levi Pinfold’s fictional picture book Black Dog and Malika Favre’s promotional images for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Film Awards.

"Our course has a very strong ethos of academic research and this book underpins that notion but also covers the context of the specialism. It is very comprehensive in its outlook and covers all of the aspects that we cover on our course with a strong emphasis on the social and cultural aspects." - Maureen O'Neill, University of Portsmouth, UK

"A well written and comprehensive guide to the subject, the education section is a must read for third year students who negotiate their own Illustration projects during the final year of the course." - Ben Kelly, University of Wolverhampton, UK

"Very useful outline of career oriented illustration practices; nice range of illustrators work used to bring a breadth of potential commissions and working practices to life." - Kim Furrokh, University of Gloucestershire, UK