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Artwork for The Good Ship Illustration

The Good Ship Illustration

The Good Ship Illustration
Illustration
Picture Books
Creativity
Creative Process
Instagram
Children's Books
Mental Health
Illustration Industry
Productivity
Working From Home
Licensing
Walk To See
Burnout
Creative Voice
Publishing
Publishing Industry
Find Your Creative Voice
Live Illustration
Self-Publishing
Illustration Techniques

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 cup... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes122Founded6 years ago
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DesignArts

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Latest Episodes

This week our Tania is speaking to the one and only Margo Tantau (the licensing whisperer).

Margo is a good ship Pal, founder of Tantau Studio and you might have heard her on her brilliant podcast Windowsill Chats. Here's a link: podcasts.ap... more

YouTube

This week our Katie is chatting to Carly Kuhn, a US-based illustrator, artist and author who ended up in illustration kindofbyaccident. She grew up in New York wanting to do TV comedy, worked at a Hollywood talent agency, took improv classes at The G... more

YouTube

"Why does promoting my own work feel so cringe?"

HIYA WELCOME BACK! We missed you!

Summer holidays are all done here in the UK. Hope you had a good rest too. 

This week our Katie's chatting to Mollie Balshaw, one half of Short Supply:

Short Supply... more

YouTube

What're you doing this summer? Are you having a little rest?

This episode is all about taking breaks and we have a wee look at our plans:

Helen is in her illustrator hermit cave for July to get the next Salty Dog book finished before the deadline, ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Margo Tantau
Licensing expert; founder and creative director of Tantau Studios; licensing whisperer
Tantau Studios
Episode: "Your old sketchbook drawings could be earning you money" - An illustration licensing chat with Margo Tantau
Alice Bowsher
Illustrator
Independent/Grand Matter
Episode: "I spent ages on the detailed stuff...but they liked the quick sketch." An interview with the brilliant Alice Bowsher
Shana Rama
Illustration enthusiast who sent a question via voice message
Episode: 'They keep asking me to tone it down.' Flying your freak flag in their faces 🚩
Nicola Allan
Illustrator, astrologer, and creator of The Wild Way decks
Self-employed; The Wild Way
Episode: You don't have to pick just one thing - an interview with illustrator-astrologer Nicola Allan
Lauren Cox
Good Shipper, Picture Book Course alumna
Good Ship Illustration / Picture Book Course
Episode: This illustrator got a book deal lead on DAY ONE of Bologna… 😳 (part 2)
Lorna Burt
Illustrator, Freak Flag course collaborator
Freak Flag / Good Ship Illustration
Episode: Brave Good Shippers at Bologna - we shoved a microphone in these illustrators faces 😆 (part 1!)
Martin Salisbury
Founder Cambridge School of Art, MA in Illustrating for Children
Cambridge School of Art
Episode: Helen Stephens chats to Prof. Martin Salisbury - Is your illustration style really yours? When influence turns into imitation 👀✏️
Carys Wright
Illustrator
Self-employed illustrator; collaborated with Tottenham Hotspur FC, Lord Mayor of London's office, etc.
Episode: It’s not too late, you’re not behind, and yessss, you should still start - an interview with illustrator Carys Wright
Kira Matthews
Illustrator and pitching coach, founder of Pitch School
Kira the Bold / Pitch School
Episode: The 7 email rule: Pitching your work to illustration clients - Kira Matthews

Hosts

Helen Stephens
Host of The Good Ship Illustration; longtime illustrator with broad industry experience.
Katie Chappell
Co-host who contributes industry knowledge and practical illustrator guidance.
Tania Willis
Co-host offering experience in illustration practice and publishing contexts.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 401 ratings
  • One of my favourites

    As a kids book illustrator, I love this podcast . I have taken a couple of courses with the Good Ship and learned so much from each one. Having the podcast to tune into as well , and get some regular advice from Helen , Tania and Katie is so helpful . Their friendly style really makes it feel like you’re sitting around having a cuppa together .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarah Lovell Art
    Canada4 months ago
  • Love these podcasts !

    I listen to these over and over - I know I’ll pick up some nugget I missed first time round!What a friendly trio of illustrators sharing so much advice. I highly recommend listening while you’re working !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pinkpig10
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Good vibes, good advice, good company!

    This has become one of my comfy, favorite illustration podcasts (and I have only 2!). The energy and mood the Good Ship captains bring to the table has no price. I will forever be grateful! Ahoy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NoaSauer
    Spain7 months ago
  • So glad to discover this show!

    I enjoy everything about this show, the hosts are all the perfect combo of friendliness, advice and experience, and wondering and being curious together. Love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    >kat.Lea<
    United States8 months ago
  • The Great CMYK & RGB Debate

    I love how these guys break down massive topics such as CMYK v RGB into bite sized chunks and always start out with different views but tie up all the loose ends. Very satisfying. Always wish the episodes were longer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Debe51
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the hosts' friendly, down-to-earth vibe and practical, readable advice.
The show is highlighted for its community feel and motivating, supportive tone.
Sound quality is sometimes noted as an area for improvement, but content consistently earns praise.
Audiences appreciate concrete tips on pricing, portfolio reviews, and publishing pathways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#27
United States/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#10
United Kingdom/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#43
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#155
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#7
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#12
Germany/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"Your old sketchbook drawings could be earning you money" - An illustration licensing chat with Margo Tantau
Q: How important are relationships in licensing, and how does one start building them?
Relationships are the gold; you build them through targeted outreach, presenting work in ways that buyers can immediately understand, and then nurturing those connections with ongoing follow-up and collaboration.
"Your old sketchbook drawings could be earning you money" - An illustration licensing chat with Margo Tantau
Q: Do illustrators need to create new art for licensing, or can they license existing work?
You can license existing work, or adapt it into new collections; it's about showing how a single piece can translate into multiple formats and products, not exclusively about making brand-new art.
"Your old sketchbook drawings could be earning you money" - An illustration licensing chat with Margo Tantau
Q: What is licensing, in its simplest terms, and what kinds of products can licensing cover?
Licensing is when you partner with a company to let them use your art on their products, which can range from labels and greeting cards to wallpaper, home decor, or children's books; you get paid through royalties, advances, or outright licensing deals depending on the arrangement.
You don't have to pick just one thing - an interview with illustrator-astrologer Nicola Allan
Q: How does Nicola approach crowdfunding platforms and audience-building for different projects?
Nicola emphasizes building on existing audiences for later projects, using platforms like Kickstarter for larger campaigns where the product has broad appeal, and using smaller, targeted platforms like BackerKit for items with a ready-made fan base. The key is to rely on email lists for launch momentum and to tailor platform choice to the project's scale and backer behavior.
You don't have to pick just one thing - an interview with illustrator-astrologer Nicola Allan
Q: What are Nicola's top tips for someone considering self-publishing or crowdfunding?
Start early with a launch date and build excitement over time, primarily through an owned email list rather than relying on social media. Collect emails, set a realistic but focused campaign scope, avoid overly complex add-ons, and keep the process enjoyable even if the campaign doesn't soar immediately. Be prepared to do a lot yourself or bring in professionals for design and layout, and test demand before fully committing to production.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Good Ship Illustration

What is The Good Ship Illustration about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A warm, practical show where three full-time illustrators answer listener questions about confidence, client challenges, pricing, creative blocks, and publishing for picture books. Across episodes, the trio shares personal workflows, live event experiences, and behind-the-scenes storytelling to demystify the illustrator's career path. Noteworthy bits include hands-on tips for studios, pitching, live illustration, and navigating fairs like Bologna, all delivered with humor and a strong sense of community. Listeners often cite the hosts' supportive dynamic and their ability to translate complex industry realities into actionable guidance for both new and established illustrators.

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How many listeners does The Good Ship Illustration get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Good Ship Illustration have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Good Ship Illustration has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Good Ship Illustration?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Good Ship Illustration:

1. 3 Point Perspective: The Illustration Podcast
2. Creative Pep Talk
3. Windowsill Chats
4. The Illustration Department Podcast
5. Learn to Paint Podcast

How many episodes of The Good Ship Illustration are there?

The Good Ship Illustration launched 6 years ago and published 122 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Good Ship Illustration?

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What guests have appeared on The Good Ship Illustration?

Recent guests on The Good Ship Illustration include:

1. Margo Tantau
2. Alice Bowsher
3. Shana Rama
4. Nicola Allan
5. Lauren Cox
6. Lorna Burt
7. Martin Salisbury
8. Carys Wright

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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