There is no single path to a thriving creative career. Sustainable businesses are built by combining multiple revenue streams, nurturing relationships, and leaning into the unique strengths only you can offer.
Join illustrator and surface designer Jess Miller for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at building a profitable creative business. In this masterclass, Jess will share her journey from corporate designer to full-time independent illustrator, along with the strategies that helped her create multiple income streams through art licensing, commissions, brand partnerships, education, and social media collaborations.
You'll learn how to create the kind of work you want to be hired for, build a recognizable personal brand, cultivate meaningful industry relationships, confidently price your work, and develop systems that allow your art to work harder for you.
Through personal stories of resilience, reinvention, and rebuilding after loss, Jess will also explore how artists can navigate industry shifts, slow seasons, and setbacks while continuing to grow a sustainable and fulfilling creative career.
Some of the topics which will be covered in the Masterclass:
The journey from freelance designer to freelance illustrator
How to develop multiple income streams
All about art licensing
Ways to get commissioned
How to land brand partnerships
Social media collaborations
Pricing your work
Jess will be sharing her income streams, case studies, and all her tips on outreach and portfolio preparation.
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Each Masterclass starts with a presentation from our host for 45 minutes, then a Q&A with the host (Mélanie) for another 15 minutes and the last 30 minutes are for questions from the audience (come prepared!).
The event will be recorded. You will receive a link to the recording post-event in case you couldn’t make the live.
Ticket fee: £40
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Jess Miller is a Los Angeles–based illustrator, designer, and content creator known for her vibrant hand lettering, whimsical characters, and bold surface pattern designs. With a background in toy packaging design, Jess transitioned to full-time illustration in 2020 and quickly built a thriving creative business rooted in color, playfulness, and storytelling.
Her work has been featured on everything from planners and phone cases to rugs, greeting cards, and apparel. She’s collaborated with leading brands including Adobe, CASETiFY, The LA Times, and The Happy Planner—creating licensed artwork, retail collections, and engaging social content.
Through her brand, Jess Miller Draws, Jess shares her creative process, business insights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of studio life with a loyal audience of over 130k on Instagram. Her mission is to spark joy, encourage creativity, and help other artists build a fulfilling and sustainable creative career.
