"I can see it in my head, but how do I explain it?"
You don't need art vocabulary. Share reference images, scenes from your book and a few words about mood. Your illustrator turns that into a rough sketch you can react to.
Custom book illustration
Words set the scene. Illustration makes it real.
From a single chapter-header motif to a full fantasy map, our illustrators bring your world onto the page. Every piece starts as a sketch you approve — so the final art matches what you imagined.
Browse the illustration portfolio 4.9/5 from 441+ Google reviewsSketch approval first300 DPI print-ready art
Sound familiar?
What authors worry about before commissioning art
"How do I keep characters looking the same in every scene?"
We start with a character design sheet — front, side and expression views — that every later illustration follows.
"How many illustrations do I actually need?"
Fewer than you think, often. A handful of well-placed pieces at key moments can do more than one per chapter. We help you pick the moments that matter.
"Will the art print well?"
Only if it's created at the right size. We work at 300 DPI or more for the final printed dimensions, with bleed where art touches the edge — try the checker below on existing artwork.
What we do
Illustration formats we create
Spot art & chapter headers
Small motifs and vignettes that give a novel or memoir a crafted, finished feel.
Best for: fiction, memoir, poetry, gift books
Full-page & spread scenes
Key moments illustrated in full, from a single page to a panoramic two-page spread.
Best for: fantasy, adventure, illustrated novels
Maps & world-building
Fantasy and historical maps that help readers follow the journey — often the most-shared page in the book.
Best for: fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction
Diagrams & non-fiction art
Clear explanatory illustrations, process diagrams and infographics for business, education and how-to books.
Best for: non-fiction, workbooks, textbooks
Portfolio
Single pages, full spreads and characters
Every book needs a different mix. Filter by format to see how each one works, then click any piece to view it full size.
See it in a book
Flip through a sample picture book
Illustrations are designed for the page turn. Notice how the two-page spreads carry the art across the gutter, and where space is left for the words.
At the edge of Whispering Woods lived a small fox called Pip, who was afraid of only one thing: the dark.
Front cover
Click the pages, use the arrows, swipe, or press ← → to turn.
Free tool
Is your artwork print-ready?
Enter your image size and printed size to check the effective resolution — and what you need for sharp print.
Print size unit
Does the art run to the page edge (bleed)?
Effective resolution
274 DPI
Borderline. May look slightly soft, especially fine lines and text. Fine for background art; risky for detailed scenes.
- Needed for 300 DPI
- 2625 × 3375 px
- Print area incl. bleed
- 8.75" × 11.25"
Every illustration we deliver is drawn at 300 DPI or higher for its final printed size, with bleed where the art touches the edge.
Talk to an illustratorHow it works
From rough sketch to finished art
Three approval points mean no surprises.
Brief
Scenes, references, style preferences and where each piece will sit in the book.
Rough sketch
Composition, pose and framing for your approval. Big changes are easy at this stage.
Line art & colour
Clean line work, then final colour or black-and-white rendering in your chosen style.
Final files
Print-ready 300 DPI files, web versions for marketing, and placement guidance for your formatter.
Pricing, honestly
How illustration is priced
Illustration is priced per piece, based on size and detail. Bundling several pieces usually lowers the cost per illustration.
- Size: spot, half-page, full-page or spread
- Colour or black and white
- Level of detail and number of characters
- Number of pieces
- Commercial usage beyond the book
Included in every project
Every illustration includes
- Sketch approval before final art
- Revisions at the sketch stage
- One round of final revisions
- 300 DPI print and web files
- Clear usage rights for your book and marketing
Why authors trust us
How we protect your book, your money and your rights
Authors are right to be careful — the industry has plenty of companies that over-promise. Here's exactly how we work.
Your accounts stay in your name
Your KDP, IngramSpark and ACX accounts are created in your name, so royalties are paid straight to you.
Milestone payments
You pay in stages tied to work you have seen and approved, never the whole fee up front for large projects.
You own everything
Copyright, files and ISBNs (when you buy your own) belong to you. You receive editable source files.
No sales guarantees
Anyone who guarantees bestseller status or sales is guessing. We give you honest forecasts and the reasoning behind them.
Written scope before you pay
A plain-English agreement lists deliverables, revision rounds and dates, so nothing is left to memory.
Independent, not "Amazon"
We are an independent author-services team. We never claim to be Amazon, KDP or any retailer.
Author stories
What authors say about working with us
“The map at the front of my fantasy novel is what readers mention most in reviews. My illustrator translated my world-building notes into something readers actually use.”
“I started with spot art for my chapter headers to keep costs down. The sketch approval process meant zero surprises — what I approved is exactly what I got.”
“Two spreads for the climactic scenes completely changed how readers experience the book. The illustrator captured the exact mood I was after.”
FAQ
Book Illustration: your questions, answered
What types of illustration do you offer?
Spot art and chapter headers, half- and full-page scenes, two-page spreads, maps, character sheets and non-fiction diagrams, in black and white or full colour.
Do I see a sketch before final art?
Always. Every illustration goes through sketch approval before rendering begins, so composition and poses are agreed first.
How long does illustration take?
A set of spot illustrations often takes two to four weeks. Detailed full-colour scenes and maps take longer. You get a schedule with your quote.
Who owns the illustrations?
You receive the rights to use the art in your book, editions and marketing. Terms are written into your agreement, including any merchandise or film use you want to add.
Do you illustrate children's picture books?
Yes — see our children's book publishing service, which covers the whole picture book: story edit, illustration, layout and publishing.
Do you use AI to create illustrations?
No. Our illustrators draw every piece. That matters for consistency, for copyright, and because readers increasingly notice AI art.
Authors often pair this with
See your world on the page.
Tell us which scenes matter most. We'll recommend formats and quote per piece.
Free consultation
Plan the illustrations your book actually needs
Share your project and we'll suggest the right formats, number of pieces and a fixed per-piece quote.
- A real consultant reads your answers — not a bot or a sales script.
- A written plan and fixed quote — within one business day, with no obligation.
- Your manuscript stays confidential — NDA available on request from the first call.
Prefer to talk it through?
Get AI Insights
Questions authors ask us before they start
Pick the question closest to your situation. You'll get a straight answer here — and you can take it further with your own AI assistant if you'd like a second opinion.
Still unsure? Ask a real consultant — it's free and there's no obligation.
There's no rule. Chapter-header motifs, a map, and a handful of full-page scenes at turning points is a common, affordable approach.
300 DPI at the final printed size, plus 0.125" bleed on any edge the art touches. A 6" × 9" full-bleed page needs about 1875 × 2775 pixels.
Colour interiors cost much more to print. Many novels use black-and-white interior art with a full-colour cover to keep the cover price sensible.
Yes, and it helps the book feel cohesive. The designer then handles typography and layout on top of the art.