[./homepag.html]
[./swill_historypag.html]
In the early eighties a group of professional illustrators in the South West of England, mainly living around Bath and Bristol, decided it would be a good idea to get together on a regular basis with the purpose of sharing information, giving and taking advice, and generally just being with like-minded, similarly-occupied people. Illustrating is usually a solitary pursuit, so it was nice to know there were others 'doing it' too! The majority were also members of the Association of Illustrators, but were looking for a regional group to supplement the AOI's London based events. So South West Illustrators was formed, aka SWill. Over the years the number of active members has fluctuated, soaring to around 80 at one time, when meetings were held in an art gallery in Bath, and then dwindling to a handful when meetings would be held in members' homes. SWill currently* has about 28 active members, and we have several more illustrators keen to join, so we will soon number over 30. Our aim is to meet 4 times a year, alternating between Bath and Bristol. We take it in turns to find/provide a venue, and do the mailing of invitations. This is now done by email. (In the 'old days', whoever was organising the meeting would draw up an invitation with details and directions, accompanied by an illustration of a pig - the symbol we have sort of adopted as our logo - 'swill' being food for pigs!) Occasionally we will have an extra meeting if there is something special to be dealt with - planning for an exhibition for example. A typical SWill meeting is an informal affair. We each bring a contribution of food and drink to share. We also bring some of our latest work to show - work in progress maybe, or a book or piece that has just been published. It is a good vehicle for the exchanging of information - useful addresses and names; methods of getting work; shows, competitions, book fairs and seminars that may be coming up; printers for producing publicity material, or items for sale, such as postcards, greetings cards and calendars; resolving computer problems etc. We discuss issues such as copyright, PLR (Public Lending Rights), royalties etc. From time to time we do something a little adventurous! A visit to a stately home maybe, a barbeque, a picnic in a park, or skittles at the pub! We have an online 'Yahoo! Group' where we can all 'talk' to each other between meetings - it gets quite busy sometimes, but has proved a useful device for communicating and keeping in touch. We also have a blog where we can promote our current events and news. We have held exhibitions as a group - The Bath Festival of Children's Literature was begun in 2007, and we have held an exhibition each year to coincide with it. We hope to carry this on and build on it. We are pleased to welcome new illustrators to our meetings. There is a small annual subscription fee, and members have the opportunity to feature on the SWILL Website. The SWill website was suggested at a meeting in 2001, as a way in which members could collectively promote their work, hopefully generating new clients and commissions by reaching a wider audience. The idea was met with much enthusiasm. Felicity Roma Bowers, a long time SWillustrator, took up the challenge of presenting our many and diverse styles under the SWill banner. This unenviable task has now been taken over by June Goulding, who is doing a grand job - take a look! Kate Davies *April 2009 For the full story of SWill's history click here
SOUTH WEST ILLUSTRATORS
[./bowppag.html]
[./bulwpag.html]
[./colbpag.html]
[./confpag.html]
[./davkpag.html]
[./delcpag.html]
[./devrpag.html]
[./ferapag.html]
[./halmpag.html]
[./hemlpag.html]
[./hillpag.html]
[./hitapag.html]
[./iveppag.html]
[./kenspag.html]
[./lorjpag.html]
[./nesjpag.html]
[./nortpag.html]
[./popapag.html]
[./rhokpag.html]
[./shenpag.html]
[./svaipag.html]
[./tanspag.html]
[./toblpag.html]
[./tracpag.html]
[./verjpag.html]
[./warspag.html]
[./wicnpag.html]
[./homepag.html]
[http://www.swillustrators.blogspot.com]
[./linkspag.html]
[./aboutswillpag.html]
[./prints_cardspag.html]
[Web Creator] [LMSOFT]