Planning a Non-Fiction Picture Book
26 April – 5 July 2024
Online course for adults
26 April – 5 July 2024
Fridays, 10:00 – 12:00 BST
There is no class on Friday 31 May
This in-depth intermediate level course will support you to create your non-fiction book, focussing on how to plan books that display information in an accessible and engaging way for your audience.
With guidance from award-winning illustrator Owen Davey, you will learn how to research effectively and plan your pages, while developing your unique way of creating images. You will get valuable insight into how to take your book to the next level by presenting it to publishers.
Our small class size of no more than 16 students will ensure that you receive personalised feedback from Owen in a relaxed and friendly learning environment. By the end of ten weeks, you will have a plan for your book, some finished spreads and the knowledge you need to take it forward.
Course content includes:
Planning
- Effective research techniques
- Approaches to non-fiction
- Refining your project goals
- Condensing text
Design
- Layout
- Pace and flow
- Style
- Colour theory
- Converting thumbnails into sketches
- Refining final artworks
Professional development
- Finding an agent
- Contacting potential clients
- Contracts, advances and royalties
- Presenting your work
About Owen
Owen Davey(opens in new window) is an award-winning illustrator who has worked with clients including Lego, WWF and National Geographic. He is the lead illustrator on the award-winning app Two Dots. His picture books have been published in over 17 languages. His Fanatical About Books was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Book Awards and longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal in 2020.
What people say about this course
“The book I've ended up developing is not the one I had in mind to begin with - it's better. The course has helped me pick the right topic, develop my thinking, colour choices, art style. I don't think I could have asked for more!”
“Owen is wonderful at building trust and comfort in a group and he is extremely generous with information about his process and the business of illustration.”
“A good balance between lecture-style content, feedback and time to work on our own projects with Owen there as a guide”
Online classes take place each Friday from 10:00 – 12:00 BST from 26 April – 5 July 2024. There is no class on Friday 31 May.
If you are not UK-based you can use this time zone converter(opens in new window) to check your local time.
Between classes we recommend allowing a minimum two hours per week for project work.
Full price: £450.00
Concessions: £360.00
Concessions are available for students, those on income-supporting benefits and early career illustrators (who have been practicing for under three years).
Disabled ticket holders can book a free ticket for their personal assistant or companion at the same time as their own full price or concessionary ticket.
Ticket bookings are subject to our terms and conditions(opens in new window).
This is an intermediate level course suitable for people who have some experience of making illustrations, but this does not need to have been professionally! The course will take you through all the steps you need to take to plan a non-fiction book or information book. It will support those new to non-fiction books, while inspiring and challenging those with more experience.
If you have any questions about whether this course would be right for you, please contact us learning@qbcentre.org.uk.
Please note that this course is for attendees aged 18+ only.
You will need a computer or tablet with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection. We use web platforms Zoom(opens in new window) and Padlet(opens in new window) to host sessions and share resources, but you do not need your own accounts to use them. You may like to print out the resources.
You’ll need a pencil you’re comfortable sketching with (e.g. HB/2B), sketching or cartridge paper, eraser, and whatever medium you’d like to work in to create final artworks. We anticipate you may be using watercolours, collage, digital…or something else entirely!
Online classes take place live on Zoom and include real-time exercises, tutorials, demonstrations, group discussion and feedback.
Course materials, including recordings of sessions and galleries are uploaded to a shared Padlet. You can also use the Padlet to upload your work for feedback.
You will receive course information and a research task one week before the course start date and login details the day before. This will be sent to the email address you used to make your booking. Please contact us if you would like us to send course information to a different address learning@qbcentre.org.uk.
The course requires homework between sessions for which you should allow a minimum of two hours per week.
Our online events are held via video conferencing application Zoom with closed captioning enabled.
We record live classes. Recordings are uploaded the day after each class and are available until two weeks after the course finishes.
Disabled ticket holders can book a free ticket for their personal assistant or companion at the same time as their own full price or concessionary ticket via the booking link.
If you have any queries, or would like to discuss your access needs, please contact us access@qbcentre.org.uk.
Ticket concessions are available for students, those on income-supporting benefits and early career illustrators (under three years’ practice).
We want everyone to be able to participate in our activities. Please email us if cost is a barrier and you would like to discuss payment options learning@qbcentre.org.uk.
If you would like to gift a place on this workshop to someone, we can send you a personalised e-ticket for them by email.
How it works
Buy a ticket via the link above.
Forward your email booking confirmation to learning@qbcentre.org.uk, along with the name and email address of the person you will be gifting it to.
We will send you a personalised e-ticket by email within 5-7 working days.
You can choose to print the voucher or email it to your recipient.
Our frequently asked questions page(opens in new window) has more information on our online courses.
Still have questions? Contact us learning@qbcentre.org.uk.