How Mentorship Helped Kate H from Belarus Secure a Six-Book Deal with a UK Publisher

Kate and I first met online—I was based in the UK, and Kate from Belarus. Despite Kate’s talent, she found herself stuck in a cycle of low-paid commissions, often without contracts or proper agreements in place. This left her feeling undervalued, unprotected, and lacking confidence when navigating client relationships. She knew she wasn’t getting the most out of the opportunities coming her way, and more importantly, she felt out of her depth when trying to move forward.

Creatively, her style was heavily rooted in fantasy with a slight gaming feel. Her drawing skills were strong but it sat within a fairly narrow space, and Kate began to realise that this was limiting her access to broader, higher-paying markets and exciting projects.

Being geographically isolated made this even more challenging—she didn’t have visibility of what was happening in the UK and US industries, nor access to the trends shaping those markets.

This is where the mentorship became pivotal in her success as an illustrator. Working internationally, I was able to bridge that gap—bringing real-time industry insight directly to Kate.

Through access to publishers, bookshops, and ongoing conversations with clients, I translated what the market was actively looking for into tailored creative briefs. These were specifically designed for the Young Adult space, giving Kate clear direction and helping her create work that was not only strong creatively, but also commercially relevant.

Rather than creating in isolation, Kate was now producing work with purpose—work that spoke directly to publishers and commissioners.

During the mentorship, she was shortlisted for the iJungle Illustration Awards with an image she created from a creative brief I specifically wrote for her on Chinese New Year. This was a great achievement and really boosted her confidence.

Once her portfolio was ready I took Kate’s portfolio to the London Book Fair, where I met with clients and presented the new direction of Kate’s work. The response was immediate. A publisher connected with the portfolio and commissioned Kate for a six-book deal.

“I’m truly thrilled about this project and so proud to have completed it. My first six-book deal, based on the illustrations we created during the mentorship—this is a dream come true. At one point, I was so frustrated, feeling like nothing was working and there was no work for me… but you found it, and I’m incredibly grateful!”

This wasn’t luck—it was the result of strategy, positioning, and commitment. By aligning creative development with what clients are looking for Kate moved from underpaid and uncertain to securing a major international publishing opportunity.

Congratulations Kate!