The Good Ship Illustration
Welcome to The Good Ship Illustration - the podcast for illustrators who are quietly working away in their sketchbooks thinking… “is it just me?”
…it’s not just you!
We’re Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis - three full-time illustrators from three different corners of the industry (and three different age brackets ). We live in the same seaside town in the UK and started having cuppas and chats… and accidentally became illustration agony aunts.
Now we record those chats for you! We answer your questions about confidence, tricky clients, pricing your work, creative block, picture books, publishing, and everything in between.
✨ New episodes every Friday. ✨
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and do send us your questions!
P.s. Fancy some freebies? Head to thegoodshipillustration.com for colour workshops, picture book templates, and other treats.
Byeeee for now!
x The Good Ship Illustration (Helen, Katie & Tania)
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Episodes
73 episodes
Bask in your weirdness ☀️ | Summer camp sketchbook week 1
Pssst, this episode was originally published in 2023 and we’re sharing it again as part of our Good Ship Summer Camp series. It’s one of 5 episodes to help you fly your freak flag this summer. If you’d like to join in properly, there’s a...
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Season 11
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Episode 1
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11:32
Is AI Coming for your job? Illustrators are fighting back! (Part 2) with Chris Haughton
This week, we’re back with part 2 of our conversation with the brilliant Chris Haughton – illustrator, author, and passionate copyright advocate.Here's a link to part 1 in...
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Season 10
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Episode 28
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22:47
“Do I Have to Pick One Style Forever?! (Part 1)” with Chris Haughton
How do you make picture books if you secretly hate writing? Can you REALLY just punch holes in a bit of paper and call it a finished illustration?! 👀This week we’ve got a proper treat for you. This is part 1 of our chat with ...
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Season 10
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Episode 27
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33:57
START HERE - Welcome to The Good Ship Illustration Podcast! (Here's our trailer) 🚢🚢🚢
Welcome to The Good Ship Illustration - the podcast for illustrators who are quietly working away in their sketchbooks thinking… “is it just me?”…it’s not just you!We’re Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell and Tania Willis - three full...
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1:44
You don’t have to draw everything (even in picture books)
Emily asked us why backgrounds can be so overwhelming. So in this episode, we share lots of low-pressure ideas to make them doable (maybeee even fun).Please enjoy Tania nearly falling asleep under a weighted blanket 🤣Podcas...
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Season 10
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Episode 26
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14:50
💰 How to protect your time, energy and income as an illustrator
“Can you just do it for free?” NO. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about working for free, how to say no without guilt, and why having nice strong boundaries won't ruin your career (we promise). Tania shares a BRILL...
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Season 10
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Episode 27
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17:41
Is this normal in publishing… or am I being taken for a mug?
When your project goes a bit pear-shaped you might wonder if that’s just how the illustration industry is.Well, this week we’re talking all about what's good, bad, and normal... and whether there are red flags you should look out for in ...
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Season 10
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Episode 26
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22:01
“Help! I found my illustration style… and I don’t like it” 😩
Have you ever looked at your own work and thought… egh? When you work so hard to find your style* it can feel rubbish to realise you don't even LIKE IT 😅.*We're not big fans of the word style...but we have to use it so you know ...
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Season 10
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Episode 25
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22:11
The joy of not finishing (all) your online courses
Quick note before we start: In this episode we use the words "women" and "creative women" but we know these things don’t just affect women, and not everyone relates to binary gender labels. This chat is based on our lived experience ...
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Season 10
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Episode 24
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15:27
The curse of "Final Artwork"
BE MORE WONKY In this episode:Why quick sketches usually have more life in 'em than polished piecesHow perfectionism kills creativityBeware of the pause button (when you're doing graphic recording / liv...
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Season 10
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Episode 23
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12:06
Inside Helen's hermit cave
Where does she go? What happens in there? Come and have a wee peek inside Helen’s hermit cave with us.BUT FIRST - is it true? Do you prefer a podcast when there's a video too? Katie's just been to Australia and chatted to som...
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Season 10
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Episode 22
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10:27
Get more illustration work: A pep talk, some tips, and a tiny rant
Errrr, how do you find illustration work in 2025? Pitching? Instagram? Postcards? SEO? In this nice an' juicy episode we’re answering the 'Heeelp, how do I find clients as an illustrator?' question.What worksWhy...
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Season 10
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Episode 21
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19:00
Residencies and Substack
Hiya. This week’s episode of The Good Ship Illustration podcast is all about artist residencies... illustrators are allowed to go on them too!Our Tania’s just returned from her first ever residency (in a chateau, of course. Ooh ...
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Season 10
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Episode 20
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31:21
Live Illustration (Course Closes Tonight!) No-fluff Q&A
Today’s a biiiig day... the doors to our Live Illustration Course are closing tonight! AGH! In this special live illustration-y episod...
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Season 10
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Episode 19
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34:01
“I’m not sure how to price my illustration work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”
This week’s podcast question is from Annabelle:“I’m not sure how to price my work. I think I panic and undercharge because I’m worried they’ll change their mind if it’s too much.”Ooft. This is a juicy e...
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Season 10
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Episode 18
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19:33
Illustrator vs artist: what’s the difference? + Creating your portfolio 🥳
Thanks for sending in yer juicy questions. Here are the ones we tackle in this week's podcast episode:“How do I build an illustration portfolio if I only have fine art work?”“What’s the difference betwee...
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Season 10
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Episode 17
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16:45
Illustration trends vs your creative voice PLUS what materials to use
Two more chunky questions for this week's episode:“How do I choose the right materials and techniques when I love them all?”“How do I keep up with new tech and trends without hopping on every train and g...
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Season 10
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Episode 17
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24:59
Perfectionism, CMYK & a shout out to Barry in the cupboard (lovin' your work, Barry)
This week we’re answering TWO of your excellent questions:“How can I stop overthinking my story and just... FINISH IT???”“Which is better, RGB or CMYK?”Here’s what we chat about:
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Season 10
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Episode 16
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18:38
How to become a paid illustrator (The step-by-step guide! lol)
This is something we hear quite a lot, and it's a BIG broad question: How do you actually become an illustrator who makes money. Dear Good Ship Illustration please break it down for me, step by step.No pressure (aaagh 😅)Alas, ther...
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Season 10
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Episode 15
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17:06
Should you quit Instagram if you're an illustrator?
This week, we’re answering a question from listener Eilidh:"How do you navigate social media? Do you have a strategy or just post willy-nilly?"Gah. It’s complicated. In this episode of the podcast we chat about:
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Season 10
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Episode 15
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13:14
Your website might be missing this one thing – and nooo, it’s not more portfolio pieces
Ahoy! Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are closing TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there...
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Season 10
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Episode 16
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19:03
Is there enough work for illustrators? The truth about illustration jobs in 2025 - a rising tide floats all boats 🚢🚢🚢
Doors to the Business Course (for illustrators!) are open TONIGHT! We're going to be having a chat over on Instagram and you're more than welcome to bring your business of illustration questions along. Be lovely to see you there. We're @thegood...
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Season 10
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Episode 14
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14:51
Feelin' guilty about not drawing as much lately? [A Good Ship Illustration permission slip]
"I'm not drawing as much anymore - Aghhhhh! Is this ok!?"If you feel like you’re not drawing as much as you “should”, then you’re definitely, absolutely not alone. In this episode, we share our drawing ebbs and flows, why guilt of...
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Season 10
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Episode 12
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13:34