Christmas work-a-thon task pt. 1

For over forty years, The Association of Illustrators has been at the forefront of championing illustration as a professional practise. The website is clearly presented and easy to navigate. A vast and varied index of illustrator's have virtual portfolios visible on the site, with these being available to both visitors and paying members  of the organisation; having such a rich array of work visible on the website is beneficial to both professionals and wannabes (like me) alike, as it makes it easy to identify current threads of trend in contemporary practise. The AoI operates on a membership basis, and any practitioner can pay a fee to upload their portfolio, thus allowing visitors to the website exposure to many up-and-coming illustrators, who may not have yet achieved commercial visibility with their practise. The AoI Award is one of the most prestigious awards of illustration, and the exposure offered to winners, runners up and shortlisted entrants via the website also makes it very easy for anyone to learn about current hot-topic illustrators, and increase interest in their work. I, for example, discovered William Grill's work through his presence on AoI, and he went on the publish Shackleton's Journey, a winner in 2014's competition.