Illustrators – your chance to watch real portfolios reviewed live, and pose your questions to industry experts

Ever wanted to be a fly on the wall during a Portfolio Review? Now’s your chance! We’re back in January with another Watch and Learn!, and this time we’re focusing on illustration. It’s your chance to watch emerging illustrators share their portfolio websites and hear real-time feedback from industry experts – all while asking your own questions along the way.

Let’s be honest: most of us have always wanted to sit in on someone else’s portfolio review. To hear what works, what doesn’t, what industry pros are really looking for. But unless you’re the one in the hot seat, those conversations usually happen behind closed doors.

Portfolio Reviews: Watch and Learn! looks to change that. This time, you’ll get a front-row seat as two emerging illustrators present their portfolio websites to an industry pro who has reviewed countless portfolios.

How will it work?

While this session focuses on illustration, you’ll also see how portfolio websites are presented, how projects are talked through and how industry professionals give feedback.

So whether you’re building your first portfolio website, a recent grad refining yours, or just curious to see how others approach theirs, this is a chance to learn in public – without having to be the one presenting!

🎟️ Interested in coming along? There are an unlimited number of places available for this event. You just need to create a free account and register now to secure your spot!

Who will be there?

Leah Airey, Senior Creative Agent at Jelly
A Birmingham City University graduate, with a diverse background in fashion and branded shoot production, Leah’s the Senior Creative Agent at Jelly. As a recent D&AD New Blood jury member, she continues to mentor through their scheme. Her mission is to ensure creativity in all forms are accessible and open spaces for everyone - especially for underrepresented communities and for creatives outside London. She thrives on connecting illustrators with opportunities, advocating for their best interests, helping them refine their portfolios and fostering conversations around pushing the concept of illustration.

Laina Deene
Laina Deene is an illustrator based in Brighton. She enjoys working with a range of materials such as coloured pencils, pastels and gouache. Her work is often from observation in a sketchbook, taking inspiration from nature, food, film and literature. She’s worked with clients like Spotify, Wieden + Kennedy, It's Nice That and Penguin Random House. Find out more about Laina here.

Jack Barrett
Jack is a London-based illustrator and animator with a strong focus on combining analogue print techniques with immersive sound to create engaging, multi-sensory work. Originally from Sussex, Jack graduated in 2025 with a BA in Illustration Animation from Kingston University. He’s currently working as a freelance illustrator making work for artists and musicians, creating social media packages for event promotion, and making accompanying visuals for live events. Find out more about Jack here.

How to register

Our Portfolio Reviews: Watch and Learn! events are designed for anyone at the start of their creative journey – whether you’re studying, a recent graduate, self-taught or switching careers.

This event is open to:

Not an illustrator? Not to worry – whether you’re a designer, photographer or anything in between, we’re sure you’ll leave with some top portfolio insights to take away.

This event is free to attend, and there are unlimited spaces. However, you’ll need to create a free account to register, so be sure to sign up now!