The Good Ship Illustration
Episode Summary: "How illustrator Jill Calder built a long-lasting creative career (without losing her voice)"
Podcast Date: November 28, 2025
Guest: Jill Calder
Host: Tanya Willis (The Good Ship Illustration)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Tanya from The Good Ship Illustration sits down with the acclaimed illustrator Jill Calder to explore the secrets behind her three-decade-long career. Calder, whose distinctive, energetic style is instantly recognizable, has navigated a vast range of illustration sectors—from editorial to branding, corporate, heritage, and most recently, award-winning children’s books—while always retaining her unique creative voice. The conversation dives deep into her journey, industry changes, creative process, and what it takes to sustain an authentic, evolving career in illustration.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Jill’s Career Journey and Evolution
- Background and Education:
- Jill studied at Edinburgh School of Art and Glasgow School of Art (03:02). She graduated in 1992.
- Initial Focus & Industry Landscape:
- Upon graduation, Jill dreamed of editorial work when magazines and newspapers were the major source of commissions and paid well (05:24).
- Early Breakthroughs:
- Opportunities often came by chance, such as a local design agency commissioning her for calligraphy after she handwrote postcards to them (05:24–07:38).
- Transitioned from editorial to corporate and design work, including regular columns and work for major agencies (08:10).
- Early feedback and encouragement on her unique combination of illustration and lettering—“They wanted to use your calligraphy.” (05:24)
- International Work and Diverse Sectors:
- Work has spanned advertising, editorial, branding, packaging, murals, and heritage sites—"I have definitely sailed across the illustration atlas and into choppy waters and also doldrums and smooth sailing and all of that." (Jill, 04:34)
- Adaptability in Career:
The Power (and Fun) of Lettering
- Lettering as a Career Catalyst:
- Handwriting played a major part in opening new markets—first with postcards, later with large campaigns (10:39).
- Notable ‘Maddest’ Job:
- A well-paid American campaign had Jill mimic handwriting styles from a “9-year-old Korean girl” to a “65-year-old German professor,” an experience she called "bonkers" and a taste of “crazy corporate money flying around” (11:45–13:36).
- “Let’s just say...I bought her an iPad as a thank you, even though I didn’t really have one myself!” (Jill, 14:54)
Creative Voice & Industry Changes
- Staying Unique Across Sectors:
- Jill’s style never became traditional or hemmed in, which she and Tanya agree made her work adaptable to many areas (04:48).
- The Good Ship Connection:
- Jill has taught and contributed to The Good Ship’s courses, notably with her honest, popular film that inspired students to “make spontaneous work and not aim for perfection” (16:39–17:34).
- Industry Shifts:
Children’s Publishing & Picture Books
- Transition to Children’s Books:
- Despite external suggestions, Jill “never really was interested in that” at first and entered children’s publishing almost accidentally (18:23).
- Her first was “Robert the Bruce” (2014), which she approached “naively” as a series of sequential editorial images (18:23–20:23).
- Process and Artistic Approach:
- Used strict color palettes inspired by medieval paintings; handled spreads as standalone pieces linked by palette (20:23–21:25).
- Fee Structures & Business Realities:
- Nonfiction picture books often come with fixed fees, whereas fiction can be royalties-based. She negotiated better terms with time and guidance from the Society of Authors (22:16–23:50).
Recent Acclaim: Picture Books & Collaboration
- Coorie Doon with Jackie Kay:
- Jill’s recent fiction book, with the Scottish poet laureate Jackie Kay, “has been a huge success” and reprinted within three months (26:28–27:06).
- The book deals with “big emotions,” aging characters, and generational love, which was challenging and rewarding to illustrate (28:25–29:18).
- I Love You Every Colour:
- Collaboration with Carol Lewis. Inspired by a Welsh poem, full of playfulness and color—“an illustrator’s dream!” (Tanya, 30:22).
- Jill deliberately contrasted the dreamy, soft palette of “Coorie Doon” with the vibrant explosion in this book (31:13–33:13).
Process: Creative Play and Energy
- Adapting Process for the Work:
- Jill regularly switches methods to maintain “energy” and avoid formulas, alternating between monochrome inking and direct color (31:13–33:13).
- After intense projects, she seeks “something a bit different...have a bit more freedom” (31:13).
- Maintaining Freshness:
- Even after years of experience, she confesses to “getting stressed and procrastinating” over maintaining energy and spontaneity (35:21).
Looking Ahead
- Next Book:
- Jill is working on “Cass and the Beast” for Gecko Press, a New Zealand publisher—due September next year, featuring a strong female lead. She shares she’s “absolutely loving it,” and focused on retaining the roughs’ energy in final art (33:57–35:12).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Career Longevity and Change:
"I have definitely sailed across the illustration atlas and into choppy waters and also doldrums and smooth sailing and all of that. Yeah, you suppose you have to expect that after 30 plus years in the business."
— Jill Calder, 04:34 -
On Serendipitous Opportunities:
"A lot of the kind of changes of direction in my work...have happened by chance. Someone's taken a risk on me rather than me being massively proactive."
— Jill Calder, 05:24 -
On Standout Commission:
"The brief basically was that they wanted handwriting but in the style like lots of different people. But I was to do all the handwriting. They were very specific briefs. One of them was a 9-year-old Korean girl..."
— Jill Calder, 11:45 -
On Artistic Play and Experimentation:
"When I look back at some of my early editorial work...‘I love you every color’ book was almost giving a nod to that...there’s always a pull to do something a bit different after you’ve done a big project."
— Jill Calder, 31:13 -
On Pressure and Keeping Energy in Work:
"I still get stressed about it. I get really anxious about it and procrastinate and chew my fingers. Oh, I'm never going to do this. And how am I going to do this?"
— Jill Calder, 35:21
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Jill’s Biography: 00:30–04:34
- Transition from Editorial to Design: 05:24–08:21
- Lettering and “Maddest” Commission: 10:39–14:54
- Maintaining a Personal Voice: 16:39–18:23
- Entry into Children’s Books: 18:23–21:25
- Business Side & Negotiating Fees: 22:16–23:50
- Coorie Doon Success and Collaboration: 26:28–29:18
- I Love You Every Colour & Artistic Playfulness: 29:33–33:13
- New Projects and Maintaining Artistic Energy: 33:57–36:37
- Wrap-up & Jill’s Role on The Good Ship: 37:08–37:37
Tone & Style
The conversation is warm, candid, and supportive—filled with industry anecdotes, practical wisdom, and a spirit of encouragement for fellow illustrators. Both host and guest speak as peers and friends, imbuing the episode with honesty, a dash of humor, and deep respect for the challenges and joys of a creative career.
Final Takeaways
- Resilience and adaptability are crucial in creative careers—embrace chance, try new things, and don’t fear transitions.
- Maintaining your distinctive voice opens unexpected doors; flexibility and authenticity matter more now than ever.
- Relaxation and play within your process bring freshness to your art, even after years of experience.
- Industry has changed—from high-profile, in-person portfolio runs to digital submissions and new business models—but community and peer support remain invaluable.
"It's amazing what you get asked to do." – Jill Calder, 13:13
"It's so nice that...that film brought out the best in me. And it was nice to talk so honestly about a career in illustration." – Jill Calder, 16:54
For more on Jill Calder:
Website: jillcalder.com
See her work and teaching on The Good Ship Illustration’s courses and Facebook community.