Children’s Book Illustrator (Vintage English Inspired Style)

I’m looking for a talented illustrator to bring an English short children’s chapter book to life through soft, nostalgic illustrations.

The style I’m after is classic vintage English children’s book illustration, inspired by Beatrix Potter and the gentle, detailed world of Sylvanian Families children's toys. Think: soft watercolour tones, warm countryside charm, expressive animals, old English vintage clothes, and a timeless storybook feel.

This is inspired by those aesthetics, not a copy of them, so originality within that world is very important.

Project Details

8 illustrations in total

Includes 1 front cover illustration (full colour)

A mix of full-page story scenes and key narrative illustrations

Focus on animals (rabbits are especially important for this project)

Scenes should feel warm, detailed, and emotionally story-driven rather than cartoon-like

Style Direction

Beatrix Potter-inspired vintage English illustration style

Gentle, natural, watercolour-like finish

Soft storytelling imagery (cottage gardens, woodland settings, cosy interiors, countryside life)

Aesthetic influence: Beatrix Potter + Sylvanian Families-style charm and detail

Important:

No AI-generated artwork

All illustrations must be original, hand-created work (digital or traditional is fine as long as it is fully original)

What I’m Looking For

Strong portfolio in traditional or semi-traditional illustration styles

Excellent ability to draw animals with expression and character

Experience creating storybook-style scenes with atmosphere and detail

Ability to maintain a consistent style across multiple illustrations

Someone who understands gentle, nostalgic storytelling through imagery

Application

If you’re interested, please apply with examples of your work.

I would especially love to see:

Vintage / classic illustration style pieces

Animal illustrations (particularly rabbits and frogs)

Storytelling-focused artwork or children’s book samples

Please also confirm that your portfolio contains original non-AI artwork only.

Payment & Process

Payment will be made per illustration, released upon completion of each piece so we can work collaboratively throughout the project.

Credit

Full illustration credit will be given in the published book, with your name listed as the illustrator.

Future Work

This project may lead to ongoing collaboration on future children’s books and illustration projects for the right artist.

I’m a kind, respectful, and professional client, and I’m genuinely excited to find an illustrator who can bring this story to life!

Looking forward to seeing your work! Will respond to applications mid next week