European Illustrators Forum meet

In June, as the US was hosting ICON 7 our European illustration friends convened in Amsterdam to discuss issues related to general conditions for illustrators and legislation affecting creators in Europe.

Board members come from the German, Dutch, Spanish, Italy, Swedish, UK and Finnish organisations. The Norwegian representative also attended.

UK based Association of Illustrators' Managing Director, Heng Khoo and Projects Manager, Derek Brazell covered issues in the UK, including the ongoing Government consultation on copyright, and the AOI’s work with the Pro-Action committee.

Following a day long meeting, the group visited Haarlem, outside Amsterdam, the next day for the Comics festival and Illustration Biennale. The well attended Biennale was held mainly in Dutch, but a few invited speakers were handily in English for those whose Dutch was non-existent.

AOI Managing Director, Heng Khoo, outside the Illustration Biennale

Comics Fair held around Haarlem Cathedral

Looking at Dutch comics

Directory of Illustration’s International Friends

I recently connected with my new London based illustrator friend Rod Hunt who I met at ICON6 in Pasadena last July. Rod is very pro-active illustration, just like I am. Rod is Chairman of the AOI – Association of Illustrators UK - the organization that hosted 'Images 35: Best of British Illustration'. 

This event is similar to the New York Society of Illustrators' awards event which celebrates excellent work that has been generated over the past year. In attendance were illustrators, AOI patrons as well as representatives from the European Illustrators Forum. EIF is an organization of national associations of illustrators in European countries who defend the rights of illustrators and promotes illustration within Europe.

Rod said, “Pleased to win an award, my 1st from Images. Done very well with all the other competitions this year too, Communication Arts, SI 53, American Illustration, 3x3, & a Clio!”

Congratulations to Rod and all the Images 35 winners and thanks to the EIF for supporting illustrators’ rights!

Rod Hunt at London's Images 35 Awards event