AOI Discusses: Celebrating National Illustration Day 2025 – A Year in the Life

In anticipation of National Illustration Day in November 2025, our next AOI Discusses session will be a chance to chat to some of our 2024 featured illustrators about how they have balanced their work and creative practice, in a challenging year for creatives.

Launched in 2023 by our friends The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration we’re looking forward to another day to uplift and share illustrators and illustration. now that the life of independent creatives isn’t always predictable, especially in a fast paced age of social media, technological growth and challenge. We’ve gathered a trio of illustrators who have harnessed their particular brand of work to forge their unique paths. We’ll be sharing what they have been working on over the past year since we last caught up, challenges that they have had to navigate and what they’ve learned.

Our Speakers

Eri Griffin is a Pen & Ink Illustrator, based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Eri creates minimalist pen and ink illustrations that capture movement, emotion, and the little details that tell a story. Her clients in the UK and US, range across publishing, music, packaging, and whisky and gin labels. Eri is currently developing a personal project called ‘Deepsea’, exploring the mysteries of the ocean through a child’s eyes.

Sakina Saidi is a French-Moroccan illustrator and artist based in London, and the founder of a small card publishing brand with cards sold in Oliver Bonas, Waterstones, and independent shops across the UK and beyond. Alongside her stationery work, she collaborates on illustrated projects; from children’s books to campaigns for organisations such as Fairtrade, Plan International UK, Coppafeel!, and Fine Acts. Rooted in connection and shared humanity, her work celebrates everyday stories, care, and hope.

James Colmer is an artist and illustrator. An illustration graduate of Falmouth Art College, he spent years combining illustration with Graphic Design and as a Creative Director before returning to his roots, full-time as illustrator and painter. His passion for creating bold, vibrant works, deeply connected to the sea have led to diverse commissions, include 20 artworks for the Victor Hugo Centre walking trails, in Guernsey and creating art and the design for Lihou Island’s new museum and education centre, blending storytelling with environmental education. His practice spans watercolour, oil, and charcoal, with a focus on narrative-driven work that amplifies the natural world and cultural heritage.

All attendees who book in advance will receive a recording of the session.

EXCLUSIVE FOR AOI MEMBERS:

• We have a limited number of FREE spaces available for Members, for the live event. Please sign up ASAP to avoid disappointment (details of how can be found in our latest newsletter or by emailing [email protected])
• AOI Members also have the opportunity to watch past AOI Discusses recordings when logged into your membership account, via our exclusive ‘Recordings’ section.

General Admission

A limited number of general admission tickets are also available.

Accessibility:

The AOI would like to make events accessible to all, where possible. Please let us know your access requirements at least one week in advance by emailing [email protected]

You can book your place here and also read more about our previous interviews with our featured illustrators here.

Images: courtesy of Eri Griffin, Sakina Saida, James Colmer and The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration