Upgrade Yourself Monthly: How to make art you love and cultivate a freelance illustration career
Join us for our next Upgrade Yourself Monthly with multi-disciplinary illustrator MURUGHIA and Somerset House Residents Association of Illustrators to explore how to build a freelance illustration practice that is creatively fulfilling, financially sustainable, and uniquely your own.
For 18-30 year olds
| Dates | Wed 2 Sept 2026 |
| Times | 6–9pm |
| Space | River Rooms New Wing |
| Price | Free |
Please note this event is for 18–30-year-olds.
Finding your footing as a freelance illustrator can feel exciting, overwhelming, and everything in between. Whether you're still figuring out your creative identity or already taking on projects, this session is designed to help you navigate the realities of building a freelance career with greater confidence.
Join multi- disciplinary illustrator MURUGHIA and Natasha Knight from the Association of Illustrators for an evening of practical insights, creative exploration and honest conversation about what it takes to make work you love while crafting a pathway that supports you.
Through a focused talk and an interactive workshop, you'll explore how to identify your unique creative strengths, uncover the themes and experiences that inspire your work, and develop a clearer sense of what makes your practice distinct. You’ll develop your own illustration concept with guidance from MURUGHIA and the Association of Illustrators team.
Together, we'll look at:
- Building a sustainable freelance career
- Developing confidence and creative momentum
- Finding your niche and embracing your unique perspective
- Making work that reflects your experiences and interests
- Growing your network and connecting with fellow creatives
- Balancing creative ambition with the practical realities of freelancing
Whether you're considering freelancing, just getting started, or looking for fresh inspiration in your creative practice, you'll leave with practical tools, new connections, and a clearer sense of your next steps.
As always, free drinks and food provided by Butch Salads will be available throughout the evening.
To get involved in the session, please sign up below:
To get involved in the session, please sign up below:
Sign up will close 10am Tuesday 18 August 2026.
While we’d love to host everyone, places are limited. We actively encourage applications from individuals within the following groups in order to help address barriers to participation and improve representation within the creative sector:
- people from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds;
- disabled and/or neurodivergent people; and
- people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
We’ll also consider your reasons for applying to prioritise those who would benefit most from taking part.
If you’ve secured a spot, you’ll hear from us by Wednesday 19 August 2026.
If you're offered a place, you'll need to confirm your attendance - otherwise, we may offer this to someone else. Please check your spam folder!
About MURUGIA
MURUGIAH’s work reflects on his life and identity, drawing on his Sri Lankan heritage and Welsh upbringing. His flower-, elephant- and skull-headed characters are influenced by a youth playing Nintendo, listening to pop punk and watching Saturday morning cartoons. Fused with references to Hollywood film and Sri Lankan art and design, his work ranges from sculpture and painting to commercial print and animation. Photo Credit: Ben Peter Catchpole
About the AOI
Launched in 1973, The AOI is a non-profit, membership based organisation working to support and advise illustrators and animators globally, across disciplines, at all stages of their career as well as working towards a better industry for all, through our Campaigns, Education, News, Events. They recently launched their new Under 25s Illustrator membership.
About Natasha Knight
As the Membership Executive at The AOI, Natasha advises and supports members on all aspects of their illustration career and membership. Her role includes The AOI Mentorship Scheme, events, articles, and college masterclass talks. Passionate about elevating underrepresented creatives, she also loves analogue & collage illustrations. Previously at the early Design Museum and House of Illustration (now QBCI), she holds a BA (Design Studies) and an Illustration MA from Falmouth University.
with thanks to The Linbury Trust