COURSE CODE: SC2404063
COURSE DATES: Monday 21st – Friday 25th July 2025
TUTOR: Rachael Ball
DAYS: 5
TIMES: 10:00am - 4:30pm
EXPERIENCE LEVEL: All Levels
FEE: £375
LOCATION: Bankside Campus, 185 Park Street, SE1 9BL
On this exciting one-week summer Design a Children’s Book course you will learn the secrets to inventing, writing and illustrating a children’s picture book; experiment with different media and approaches; benefit from regular mentoring from a published author and gain professional tips for approaching a publisher. By the end of this fun and inspirational week, you will have written a compelling story; created fabulous characters; experimented with making a finished page or pages of artwork and designed and developed a storyboard.
This course is ideal for aspiring writers and illustrators who want to learn the fundamentals of making a picture book and is suitable for amateurs and professionals alike.
Your tutor, Rachael Ball, has also taught workshops on writing and illustrating picture books and graphic novels at Anglia Ruskin University, the Arvon, the House of Illustration and the City Lit. Her first graphic novel, published by Bloomsbury was one of the Guardian’s best graphic novels in 2015. Her second YA graphic novel, Wolf, published by SelfMadeHero in 2018 was described by the Times Literary Supplement as ‘wildly inventive, poignant and elegiac.’
Recommend booking by: July 7, 2025
All attendees must be aged 18 and over.
This course is suitable for all levels. Students can move at their own pace depending on their experience, with as much support from the Tutor as they wish. This means an student from the following experience levels can join this course:
Choose a Beginners course if you are looking for a broad introduction to the medium you are studying. Our Beginner courses are suitable for students with no prior experience.
Choose a Beginner + course if you are looking to hone your skills, focus on a specific subject area and build your confidence. These courses are suitable for those with some basic skills in and knowledge of the taught medium.
Our Intermediate courses are suitable for students who have considerable prior knowledge of the taught medium or have completed a Beginners/Beginners + course with the Art Academy.
Choose our Advanced courses if you have considerable knowledge in the taught medium. You are expected to be able to work independently and have critical discussions around your work.
Students must provide their own drawing materials. You will need to bring to your first lesson
Your tutor will advise you directly what to bring in subsequent weeks. Examples of previously attempted work is useful but not essential.
Rachael Ball has been a cartoonist/ illustrator since 1988, an Art teacher from 2001- 2016. Since 2016 she has been running workshops on writing and illustrating unique stories for children and adults across London. Her first graphic novel, ‘The Inflatable Woman’ (published-Bloomsbury), was a Guardian Best Graphic Novel 2015 and was shortlisted for ‘The British Book Design and Production Award’ 2016. Her second book ‘ WOLF’ will be published by Self Made Hero in October 2018
185 Park Street,London SE1 9BL
tel: +44 (0) 207407 6969
This is our new purpose built accessible campus. Find more information here
Nearest Tube/ Rail: London Bridge or Southwark (both a 10-15 minute walk).
Please note that London Bridge has two exits, the most direct route is to follow signs to “Borough Market”.
Students are welcome to use The Hub during break times, where you can prepare hot drinks and/or food. You must bring your own keep-cup, water bottle or food container to the Academy as mugs, glasses, and containers will not be available in our Bankside campus.
Tea and coffee will be provided by the Academy and is available from the island unit at the end of The Hub.
We offer a number of concessions and discounts, please find more information on what we offer here.
If you would like to purchase a gift voucher to be used on our courses then you can purchase these here.
£375.00
Please apply coupon code aa-summer-10% at checkout.