Jess Mason
"I really wanted to pursue an illustration-related career path and learn more about art formally… and now I’m an Editor at 3dtotal Publishing."
Jess Mason wasn’t sure which area of illustration was right for her when she started her degree.
“I was introduced to an illustrator, Jon Klassen, whose work is absolutely incredible. His picture books showed me that they could be beautiful, meaningful, and funny. I was just a little bit ignorant before.”
That discovery sparked a passion for children’s illustration, and Jess began exploring the work of other artists, eventually realising:
“That’s what I want to do.”
Now a full-time children’s book illustrator, Jess’s work can be found in bookshops and libraries across the country—a dream come true for someone who has always loved stories.
“As a lover and a collector of books, being able to go into bookshops and see my books on the shelves is just hugely, hugely exciting.”
Jess credits her time at Worcester as a turning point in her creative journey.
“My time at Worcester was instrumental in helping me build my career, and I’m really not just saying that. You don’t need a degree to be an illustrator, but I have no doubt I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not done it.”
“They introduced me to many different areas of illustration, so I was able to try lots of different things and figure out what I was good at and what I was interested in.”
“We had the opportunity to meet professionals from the field, go on trips to meet publishers, and actually see how big the world of illustration is.”
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