FRANCES MOFFATT
Co-Founder
Frances Moffatt MA PGCE FHEA
I’m Frances, a freelance illustrator, writer and educator and I'm pleased to welcome you to the School of Illustration.
After the usual pathway of school, college and university, with a brief detour into the fashion industry, I took a leap of faith and followed my childhood passion for words and pictures. I left my fashion design job in London and returned home to the North East, determined to start a new career as an illustrator.
There was just one problem, though.
Or actually, there were several. I had no illustration portfolio, no contacts in the industry and I was living in an area of the country that, in common with anywhere outside a big city, there was a distinct lack of creative opportunities.
So I decided to go back to university, with the goal that alongside being an illustrator, I could also lecture in the subject too. The plan was that teaching could provide a steady part time income alongside freelancing.
I enrolled on a full time Post Graduate teaching course, then a part time Master’s Degree in Design, whilst temping in teaching and office jobs and developing my artistic practice, until I graduated with a portfolio of fashion and lifestyle illustrations .
I had real sense of achievement, but still felt very daunted by the prospect starting my career as an illustrator and getting my work out into the world.
So I got to work and started researching, reading endless books, magazines, websites and blogs that contained any little piece of info on how to be a professional illustrator. The Writers and Artists Yearbook became my bible, and I spent every moment I could (at this point I still had a day job) emailing and cold calling potential clients. Ever so gradually, my persistence paid off and I began to build my freelance career, and have been lucky enough to experience many great career highlights:
Being shortlisted for the AOI (Association of Illustrators) Illustration Awards and finding representation with a globally renowned illustration agency straight out of university
Authoring and illustrating 3 books (the latest of which was selected by The Independent as one their ’13 best adult colouring books for unleashing your creativity’)
Serving on the judging panel for The Batsford Prize, one of the U.K’s most prestigious art and design competitions
Writing, then lecturing on, a highly successful illustration degree course
Speaking at TEDx Bloomsbury on the subject of creativity
Being a Co-curator and speaker at the award winning Northern Festival of Illustration 2016-2019
Writing an article for the Writers and Artists Yearbook on ‘Illustrating for Non-Fiction’ (this felt like the ultimate full circle moment)
Which all leads right here to The School of Illustration. It's been great to be able to create something that’s exactly what I would have wanted when I first started out, a place where you can find all the advice, guidance and information you need to be an illustrator all in one place.
IF YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE..
Check out my credentials below to learn more about my professional experience
I SPENT A VERY LONG TIME AS A UNIVERSITY STUDENT
Seven years in total! I studied English Literature at Newcastle University for a year, but I was really bored, missed being creative and also didn’t have clue what I was going to do when I graduated. So I moved onto Northumbria University, where I completed a BA (Hons) in Fashion Marketing. This was a four year course, with a year out in industry – I worked at a Fashion PR agency just off Regent Street and could be found most lunchtimes in Oxford Street Topshop (RIP) spending all my intern wages.
Part two of my higher education experience was as a mature student, after working as a junior fashion designer. I completed a Post Graduate Certificate (PGCE) in Post Compulsory Education and Training (translation – teaching at college/university level rather than in schools) at the University of Sunderland, then studied part time for a MA in Design at Teesside University.
I WORKED AS A LECTURER AND RESEARCH ASSISTANT AT A CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR TEACHER TRAINING (CETT)
From 2012 to 2014 I was a Lecturer on the Post Graduate Certificate (PGCE) in Post Compulsory Education programme at the University of Sunderland, and a Research Assistant at the Sunderland University Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (SUNCETT). I’m fascinated by educational theory and love geeking out on Vygotsky and Piaget, and this job was an amazing grounding which enabled me to really immerse myself in the world of education and solidify my beliefs and approach to learning. I believe it’s so important for students to have an understanding of the behavioural psychology behind learning to better understand the journey they're on and they challenges they may encounter, and this approach is integrated into all our courses.
I'M A FELLOW OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACADEMY
Whilst lecturing in Higher Education, I was awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). This award recognises commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education across planning, delivery, assessment and student support.
I HAVE OVER 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF LECTURING IN DESIGN AT DEGREE LEVEL
I have developed and lectured on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes in illustration and graphic design at a number of UK Universities.