Mentorships for Illustrators
Alongside my professional illustration work, I offer a dedicated mentoring programme designed to support and guide illustrators at various stages of their careers. I work with graduates and early career Illustrators, and also with established Illustrators who need support and guidance surrounding their work.
I have 25 years of experience as an Illustrator, I’ve seen almost every kind of brief fly across my desk. I have been mentoring Illustrators since 2022. I help Illustrators refine skills, expand their portfolios, and take significant steps toward their creative and professional goals.
Mentees have achieved the following:
Secured agent representation
Won commissions
Gained confidence to develop and submit personal projects
Built and refined their portfolios
Explored and strengthened their creative voice
My goal is to help illustrators see beyond just making a living—to develop a vision for their work and career. Whether you're in the early stages or already established, I provide structured guidance, feedback, and goal-setting. I also offer optional mock briefs to enhance and tailor portfolios. I believe that when artists discover and embrace their unique creative voice, competition becomes irrelevant—their work speaks for itself.
What to Expect from Mentoring:
Tailored guidance for your specific stage in your illustration career
Strategic goal setting over a structured three- or six-month period
Portfolio-building exercises and constructive, yet encouraging, critique
Sessions conducted via video call (Zoom), with in-person options available in London upon request
Email Support
Mentoring Options & Pricing:
Single session – £89
A focused 60-minute session providing actionable advice on development and career direction. One-off session, no obligation to re-book. Great for when additional time/ session is needed (but you don’t want to book a full block) a fresh viewpoint, troubleshooting and confidential, independent advice.
Block Booking – Save More, Grow More
Block bookings provide consistency and accountability for those seeking structured, medium-term support. Each session lasts 1 hour and includes a 30-minute monthly optional check-in.
3 sessions – £179
6 sessions – £329
What’s Included:
✔ Monthly 1-hour 1:1 mentoring session (with optional check-in) ✔ Portfolio review and strategic development ✔ Business & career guidance ✔ Email support between sessions ✔ Tailored practice briefs to strengthen your portfolio ✔ £20 discount on all courses I run.
Mentoring plus ++
I offer a couple of different bundles to help you and also save a few pennies when brought together: Ink for Impact Essentials Course which is my short course on Illustration Business 101, and I also offer Portfolio Reviews and mentoring together.
About me:
With 25 years of experience as a freelance illustrator working in editorial, design, and book publishing, I’ve seen the challenges, growth, and satisfaction of a well-built creative business. I’ve learned the ins and outs of both the creative process and the business side, and I’m passionate about helping illustrators build their careers. My approach to mentoring is friendly, confidential, and focused on providing the insights and support you need to grow as an artist and a professional.
Testimonials (Thank you, everyone!)
"The six-month mentorship with Sarah Horne was excellent for my artistic development and great value for money. Sarah provided detailed feedback on my work and career advice, which boosted my confidence to take on client projects. Thanks, Sarah!" – Chantelle Holt“I had a fantastic 4 days in London village last week attending the Illustrators Intensive Course, run by the fabulous @sarahbhorne9 The course was 3 days, jam-packed full of information, examples, advice, plans and resources. We also had lots of time for one-on-ones with Sarah and were able to ask any questions that suited our own journey. We had some fun, creative challenges and time to develop ideas too. I cannot thank Sarah enough. She has helped me ‘level up’, and I’m looking forward to the direction I’m heading. She is a wonderful teacher, mentor, illustrator and just a fabulous human. Can’t recommend working with her enough in any capacity! At the very least, go and track down some of her work, because it is outstanding 😁” — @gkelliottpicsandwords
"I could not recommend Sarah's course more highly. The course was well-structured and interesting. Sarah's relaxed company really helped everyone to explore their ideas freely and to be confident in their work. I was interested in learning about book illustration but also more widely other areas of illustration e.g. editorial. She really helped me to see where I could put my focus and where my work might fit in within the industry.
She is a lovely individual who is encouraging and has a real talent who is willing to share her knowledge to others. I left the course feeling more confident and focused on where to put my attention to. Thanks, Sarah!" – Iona Cary
“Always working on your own can feel quite lonely sometimes. Brainstorming solo, juggling ideas, and making every decision by yourself can be overwhelming. But most of the time that's the reality of being a freelance illustrator. Sure, when you're working on client or book projects, you get feedback from editors or clients. But, when it comes to your personal development, you often have no one around to discuss your ideas with. So, this summer, I decided to book mentoring sessions with Sarah Horne. It’s amazing to have someone on a professional level to talk to about your thoughts, challenges, and aspirations as an illustrator. Getting feedback on personal projects and my portfolio was invaluable.
In addition to that, having a mentor brings so many benefits:
💡 A fresh perspective: Sometimes, you're so close to your work that it’s hard to see it objectively. A mentor offers new insights that can make a big difference.
💡 Accountability: Knowing someone is there to check in with keeps you on track and motivated to achieve your goals.
💡 Tailored advice: Every illustrator's journey is unique and it's incredibly beneficial to get specific advice on your current situation.
💡 Inspiration: Hearing about your mentor’s own experiences and how they’ve navigated their career is both motivating and inspiring.
💡 Confidence boost: Getting constructive feedback from someone you trust helps you see your strengths and feel more confident about your work.
💡 Another reason I chose to work with Sarah: I would love to work for UK and US publishers, so having someone who knows these markets was incredibly valuable for me.
I can highly recommend Sarah as a mentor. So if you need a professional sparing partner you should check out her offer.
✨ Sometimes, the best way to grow is to ask for help and I’m so glad I did! —-- Katrin Muller
How to Book for Mentorship
To book a session(s) click the link to email me and provide details about your work and where you’re based. I work with many people around the world (the beauty of video calls!). I’d love to understand where you are in your career—whether you're just starting, looking to refine your work, or moving into a new phase.
Please include:
Your location (which country or region you’re based in)
A brief description of your current work or portfolio
Your stage in your career (e.g., beginner, graduate, established etc. I with all levels)
Once I receive your email, we’ll schedule your session and discuss how I can best support your growth as an illustrator.