How long does it take to illustrate a children's book? (Spoiler: longer than you think)

Hey everyone,

It feels like the seasons are shifting here in the UK. The mornings are getting that bit crisper, and Ollie (my pup) is suddenly more interested in long sniffs on our walks than dashing home.

Maybe it’s the fresh air, but I’ve been reflecting on how the rhythm of my work mirrors the rhythm of the seasons.

Nothing in illustration is rushed. Things grow slowly, layer by layer, until suddenly there’s a whole book sitting on my desk.

The question I’m most often asked by new clients is: “How long does it actually take to illustrate a children’s book?”

Most people imagine a few weeks. Some hope for two or three months. When I say my process usually takes around five months, there’s often a pause - the kind where I can almost see the cogs turning.

Five months sounds like forever when you’re eager to see your story come alive. But the reality is, books need that time. Each stage has its place, and each step is what makes the final book so special.

So today I thought I’d take you behind the scenes of my children’s book illustration timeline, month by month, and show you what’s happening in the studio during those five months.

Month 1: Meeting and full-sized rough drawings

Before pencils or paintbrushes hit the page, I start with an in-depth meeting with the author. It’s where I get to know the story, the characters, and the vision for how the book should feel. We’ll talk about settings, moods, and any must-have details.

From there, I create full-size rough drawings either digitally or in watercolour.

These drawings are intentionally simple, with very little shading or detail, so you can see how the main colours and characters might sit on the page.

Sometimes I’ll create a few options for key characters, or an edit may be needed, but often, by listening carefully to the author’s vision, I can get very close to what they want first time.

Month 2: Redrawing and refining

With feedback from the first stage, I redraw the book to tighten things up.

The characters start to feel more defined, and their personalities come through in little ways - an eyebrow arched, a hand raised mid-action.

This stage is still very much about drawing and redrawing, but it’s essential.

Each redrawn spread over the first three months gives both me and the author a clearer idea of how the book will flow, and it’s a chance to make adjustments before we head into the more detailed work.

Month 3: Developing detail

By month three, the drawings gain more shape and substance. While still not fully polished, these versions start to capture how the finished book will look.

Characters, colours, and environments become more consistent, and the story begins to feel properly anchored in its visual world.

This is where the process might still look deceptively ’unfinished’ to an outside eye, but it’s where the book really finds its footing.

Each page has enough information for the author to imagine how the final spreads will come together.

Months 4 & 5: Final artwork & polish

These last two months are the marathon stretch.

Spread by spread, I bring the book to life in full colour. These are the pages that will be printed, so every detail is very carefully considered, from the angle of a character’s gaze to the textures and background elements that give the story depth.

Some days I finish a spread, other days just a half if it’s particularly detailed. It’s steady, quiet work, but by the end, the story feels fully alive.

At this stage I also take care of formatting:

●       Choosing the font

●       Designing the front and back covers (sometimes drawn from the interior artwork, sometimes created specially)

●       Adding the copyright and ISBN page

●       And more often than not, including a “meet the author & illustrator” page

By the end of these five months, everything is polished, consistent, and ready for print.

Why five months? Because good things take time

When you break it down, five months doesn’t feel so unreasonable.

Each stage builds on the last, and if you skip or rush through one, it almost always shows later. By moving steadily, we make sure the story shines both in words and pictures.

A children’s book is something to be treasured - read at bedtime, carried in little backpacks, passed down to siblings. Giving it a careful timeline means the illustrations will hold up to all those rereads and still feel magical years down the line.

What it’s like working together

Throughout these five months, I don’t disappear into a cave of paints and paper.

Communication is part of the process. At the end of each stage, I send updates so you can see how things are shaping up. That way, you feel involved in the journey and I feel confident I’m capturing your vision.

Think of it as a partnership. You bring the words and imagination; I bring the visual storytelling. Together, we create something that children (and their grown-ups) will love.

Questions I’m often asked

●       Can you do it quicker? For a shorter project — like a handful of spot illustrations — yes. But for a full 24–32 page book, five months is realistic. Speeding it up usually means compromising, and I’d rather give your book the care it deserves.

●       What do you need from me to start?A finished or near-finished manuscript, any must-have notes (like “the main character must always wear red shoes”), and your preferred deadline. That gives me the tools to plan the schedule properly.

●       What happens if I change my mind halfway through? We build in checkpoints so you can give feedback at each stage. That way, big changes rarely appear late in the process. If something does come up, we’ll chat and figure out the best way forward.

Thinking of creating your own book?

If you’re dreaming of publishing your own children’s book, I hope this gives you a clearer idea of the timeline. It might take longer than you first thought, but that’s because every stage matters. From the first scribble to the final page, the process is about creating something that lasts.

And if you’d like me to help bring your characters to life, you can always get in touch here.

Sending lots of love, Ellie x