MAKE VALUABLE CONNECTIONS WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND SECURE WORK
"Before I met you in December, I didn’t have any work, so I started the mentorship. It’s now May and I’m fully booked. My yearly salary is very impressive, and I now know I can make a good living as an illustrator. This is a great mentorship. " MORGANE M
Katmar has completed the Helen Biles Studio mentorship programme and is currently on the Creative Launch Programme and is now securing commercial projects. Her most recent project was with with Slimmingworld Magasine.
"When I received a message from Helen to check my email, I was running out of the house with the children. At first, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was standing at the door, blinking, unable to believe that this was happening to me. Helen and I had spent so much time and effort on my portfolio that I almost gave up. But the commission came! When I didn’t expect it
Working on a real project is different from a practice brief. I was afraid of making a mistake. I even didn’t tell my family right away. I couldn’t believe my happiness.
Thanks to Helen, the work went smoothly. I am very grateful to her for that, especially since my first order coincided with her vacation.
Helen still kept in touch with me throughout. If it weren’t for Helen, I would have never received my first order or believed in myself.
Now I feel more confident creating illustrations because I’ve got a commission, there will be more. I know it…"
KATMAR
https://www.instagram.com/katmar_illustrator
"I got the project with Andy you sent me in, thank you so so much helen!
You’ve done so much for me in 2 months! :) You’re the best!"
NANCY BUTTERWORTH
https://buttersdraws.com
"I am so grateful to you for our sessions and what my portfolio has become.
I really feel confident in my work and I love that feeing:)
Thank you for your endless support and attention, after each session I leave insanely energised
and recharged I've said it before, but I really wanted to say it again because you are a fantastic mentor! "
KRIS
"Ive received my first 6 book deal based on the illustrations we created in the mentorship, this is a dream come true."
KATE H
Helen! I sent my portfolio to agents and Anna Goodson has offered to represent me. I’m so happy but also a little nervous. They have such amazing illustrators and a great roster of clients.
Thank you! I really appreciate your support. These achievement is also a part of your work.
SASHA SVIRIDOVA
http://sashasviridova.com
"I have great news!
A large publishing house wrote to me with an offer to illustrate an entire folk book. I can not believe it!
This will be my first experience! A little bit nervous.
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution to my development,
this would not have happened without your help! They liked both the children's portfolio and the folklore one that we have been working on!.....
"Hello again helen, the editor wrote to me with an offer to do another book, so there
will be not one, but two published books!! In the second project there are 60 illustrations! I
cannot believe it! Without you this wouldn't have happened!!"
“Hello Helen, I received another order for the book, this is the third book! This is some kind of magic!!”
Kristina Gnatovskaia
https://www.instagram.com/lisenokfrenki
"I wanted to sincerely thank you for our collaboration and for the work we did together on the book project. I truly appreciate the time, effort, and care you put into our cooperation.
ANASTASIA YUTUS
"Thank you so much for all the guidance you've given me so far. I've been doing things I never realized I could do, and my style has changed completely because of your advice. I am now working on live client commission and I have only had 4 sessions with you"
GEHAD STUDIO
"Since completing the mentorship and creative launch programme, Marieme Ba is now securing regular projects and making her mark as an illustrator. Heres what she says:
If you are wondering whether having a mentor is a good idea, I guarantee you it is.
Whether you are a total beginner or more accomplished artist, having the input of an industry professional like Helen will add value to your illustration career.
I started the mentorship with the goal to curate a professional portfolio but what I ended up gaining from it is actually so much more. Helen has guided me to step outside of my comfort zone with colours, composition, crops and angles… I was very set in the colour palette I had initially picked but Helen opened my mind and I now have a portfolio with pink and purple which are colours I was not even a fan of.
This is what you get from a mentorship, not Google or a YouTube video, but someone who is invested in your own work and will dedicate time to make sure you will make your best work.
I really enjoyed each creative brief as I felt challenged enough and it also prepared me for what I would have to do in a real client scenario.
Not only Helen has worked as an agent and understands what clients are looking for but she consistently researches and informs herself on what is currently appealing in the art world. So you also get up-to-date relevant information.
Outside of the technical and professional help I got, I also would like to mention Helen’s personal qualities which are as important, in my opinion. S
he has been so kind and supportive over the months of my mentorship, especially in times where I was not feeling my best.
Helen is very accommodating, kind and patient. I feel so more much confident in my artistic journey, thank you so much Helen for all your help and guidance :)"
MARIEME BA
Thank you for your kind words! I'm truly thrilled about this project and that I was able to complete it. At one point (before I got it) I was sooo frustrated that it wasn't working out and that there was no work for me...but you found it and I'm so grateful! Thank you again for all your work!
KATE H
I’ve been working with Helen for a few months now, and her mentorship could not have come at a better time. I was preparing for my very first trip to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair as an illustrator, and I needed both clarity and direction.
In the lead-up to the fair, Helen helped me tremendously to elevate my work and shape a portfolio that I felt genuinely proud of and confident presenting. Beyond that, she offered practical, experience-based guidance and shared essential insights that are difficult to find elsewhere.
During the Bologna trip itself, she was an absolute gem. She was always there, responsive, supportive, and incredibly thoughtful in her advice. Whenever I felt unsure, she helped me refocus, approach things with confidence, and make the most of every opportunity. Her understanding of the market and her ability to guide me toward the right direction made a real difference.
That trip was truly eye-opening for me, and I can say with certainty that a large part of that experience was shaped by Helen’s precious guidance and her ability to make you feel confident and proud of your work.
I’m really looking forward to continuing this mentorship. I cannot recommend it enough. This kind of one-to-one support goes far beyond generic online training or simple portfolio reviews. Having a dedicated mentor made all the difference for me and was exactly what I needed at this stage in my journey.
KYRIA MCKIE
“Before starting the mentoring, I had no industry focused efficient goals and my artwork was below my real potential.
Helen's mentoring program made everything became clearer and I gained a lot of confidence through Helen's feedback. I understood that I have a lot to offer to the industry and with Helen's guidance everything became more objective, organized, calmer, and structured.
Through the proposed challenges I was able to find my artistic voice and I realized that there is space in the industry for the work I love doing, and with each new brief I have been increasingly expanding my courage, my vision and my skills.”
VIVI
Thank you for all of your help this past year. You have really helped me to step out of my comfort zone and be brave! I am looking forward to carrying on in the New Year.
ERIN