About me
Hi. I’m Rich. I’m a Picture Book Illustrator living and working in rural Northamptonshire.
I have worked as an Illustrator for over 15 years. My past clients include: The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Hodder, Bloomsbury and many others. In 2022 I completed my first collaborative children’s picture book as Illustrator and to date have Illustrated 7 books. I am also working on my debut picture book as Author / Illustrator.
If you have any questions, just drop me an email.
Happy Trails
Rich
Testimonials:
"I really enjoyed working with Rich. His creativity and excitement for what he does is contagious. I look forward to working with him again in the future!"
Doug Gonterman, March 2023
- 'My backyard Ate My Brother' Publishing Summer 2023 -
"You can trust Rich to bring your greatest imaginings to life! He was a pleasure to work with and gave me plenty of opportunities throughout the development of the picture book to give feedback and direction. The quality of the illustrations are unbelievable! Hiring him to illustrate my book was the best decision I could have made and I plan on working with him on many projects to come."
Jessa Hooley, November 2024
- 'We’ll See' Out now on Amazon
Frequently asked questions
Below are some common questions . If you want to know anything else about my experience or work, feel free to drop me a line.
How much do you charge?
This is a difficult question to answer without knowing the full scope of your project. Typical price factors include: time, complexity, sizing, and rights.
Do you charge hourly or by the project?
Usually I will charge by the project. That way we both know where we are in terms of overall cost.
I’m thinking of hiring you. What is the first step?
Simple: For one off Illustrations, Just send me a message, either through this website or at richgemmell(at)gmail.com. Alternatively, all my book projects are handled through Reedsy, where you can request a detailed quote for your book project. Reedsy provides protection for both Author and Illustrator. It is an amazing resource for aspiring Childrens Authors.
Can you do sample illustrations before we decide to hire you?
I would be happy work on one or two rough character designs and sketches to make sure we are the right fit.
How long does an illustration take?
Without the full knowledge of the project, this is a very hard thing to determine. It depends on complexity, size and the application in which its being used. A detailed double page spread in a picture book can be roughly 4 - 8 hours work.
What does the process look like from start to finish?
I like to keep things as easy and collaborative as possible. After a price and timeframe is agreed and a contract is entered into, that’s when the fun beings. This would usually take the form of rough sketches to begin with, which I would send to you for approval (or disapproval).
After we have agreed a rough layout and composition I will work on refining these sketches to something neater, before sending back again for final sign off. Then the final rendering of the artwork can begin, but even these worked up images can easily be edited.
Do I own the copyrights to the illustration?
This is something we agree on at the beginning of the project.
Can I hire you for a children’s book I’m writing?
I would love to hear about your book! Just contact me by email or through Reedsy.