I am a friendly, patient and hardworking illustrator and designer based in Plymouth, UK. I love turning a client’s vision into engaging visuals and I’m a fast learner who thrives on new challenges and collaboration. Over the years I have freelanced as an illustrator, built an online brand, sell products at craft fairs, and self-published several children's picture books. After coming out of maternity leave with my final child i am ready to jump back into creating, focusing especially on creating beautiful picture books and brining authors visions to life!…

Tatum Croft

PRO

I am a friendly, patient and hardworking illustrator and designer based in Plymouth, UK. I love turning a client’s vision into engaging visuals and I’m a fast learner who thrives on new challenges and collaboration. Over the years I have freelanced as an illustrator, built an online brand, sell products at craft fairs, and self-published several children's picture books. After coming out of maternity leave with my final child i am ready to jump back into creating, focusing especially on creating beautiful picture books and brining authors visions to life!…

Available to hire

I am a friendly, patient and hardworking illustrator and designer based in Plymouth, UK. I love turning a client’s vision into engaging visuals and I’m a fast learner who thrives on new challenges and collaboration.

Over the years I have freelanced as an illustrator, built an online brand, sell products at craft fairs, and self-published several children’s picture books. After coming out of maternity leave with my final child i am ready to jump back into creating, focusing especially on creating beautiful picture books and brining authors visions to life!

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Market Stall Assistant at Market Stalls
January 1, 2022 - November 26, 2025
Packaging products; Selling products; Getting a cash float; Engaging with customers; Handling money; Creating and setting up display; Displaying artwork; Using a card reader; Attracting customers to the stall; Handling larger quantities of stock
Illustrator at Self-employed (Children's Book Illustrations)
January 1, 2020 - November 26, 2025
Communicating with authors; Negotiating a price; Arranging meetings to discuss the book; Receiving feedback and applying these to my work; Illustrating variety of images; Designing layout and look of book; Producing book covers; Designing text layout; Discussing publishing and printing details; Editing final versions of book; Setting my own deadlines; Self published multiple children's picture books; Great at working with others
Online Store Owner / Online Retailer at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - November 26, 2025
Designing online brand; Handling online orders; Helping customers with any questions or issues; Packaging products; Posting products; Setting prices for products; Dispatching items within a limited time period; Designing online store on my website; Creating print-on-demand products; Creating promotional product images; Promoting products on social media
Intern at Plymouth University iMayflower Internship
December 1, 2020 - December 1, 2020
Worked with a professional client; Developed core employability skills; Problem solving; Managed timesheets and finances; Thoroughly researched appropriate topics; Arranged virtual meetings with client; Applied feedback to work
Freelance Illustrator at Self-employed
January 1, 2018 - November 26, 2025
Communicating with customers; Negotiating a price; Passion for learning; Knowledge in running a business; Can work in a range of materials and art styles; Receiving feedback and making corrections; Packaging and presenting product; Great at working independently; Processing payment and arranging product exchange; Confident with using Microsoft and Adobe software; Ability to work with PC and Mac appliances
Illustration Fair Stall Volunteer at Illustration Fair Stalls
January 1, 2018 - November 26, 2025
Setting up stalls and displaying work; Offering help and assistance for customers; Attracting customers to the stand; Working with sales and exchanging money; Networking with other illustrators at the fair
Market Stall Operator at Market Stalls
January 1, 2022 - Present
Packaging products, selling products, cash handling, engaging with customers, setting up displays, displaying artwork, stock management, using card reader, attracting customers to the stall.
Children’s Book Illustrator at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - Present
Self-published multiple children’s picture books; communicates with authors; negotiates pricing; arranges meetings; implements feedback; illustrates a variety of images; designs layout; produces book covers and text layout; discusses publishing and printing details; sets deadlines.
Online Store Owner / Online Seller at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - Present
Designs online brand; handles orders; assists customers; packaging and shipping; pricing; dispatching items; designs online store; creates print-on-demand products; promotional imagery; social media promotion.
Mayflower Internship at Plymouth University (Mayflower Internship)
December 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020
Worked with a professional client; developed core employability skills; problem solving; managed timesheets and finances; researched topics; arranged virtual meetings with client; applied feedback to work.
Volunteer - Illustration Fair Stalls at Illustration Fair Stalls
January 1, 2018 - Present
Setting up stalls, displaying work, assisting customers, attracting visitors, handling sales and money, networking with other illustrators.
Children’s Book Illustrator at Self-employed / Freelance
January 1, 2020 - Present
Communicating with authors, negotiating prices, arranging meetings, receiving feedback and applying changes, illustrating a variety of images, designing layout and look of books, producing book covers, designing text layout, discussing publishing and printing details, editing final versions, setting deadlines, self-publishing multiple children’s picture books, and collaborating effectively with others.
Online Seller / Brand Designer at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - Present
Designing online brand, handling online orders, assisting customers, packaging, posting, setting prices, dispatching items, designing online store, creating print-on-demand products, designing promotional product images and promoting products on social media.
Internship at Plymouth University iMayflower Internship
December 1, 2020 - December 1, 2020
Worked with a professional client, developed core employability skills, problem solving, managed timesheets and finances, thoroughly researched topics, arranged virtual meetings with client and applied feedback to work.
Volunteer Illustrator at Illustration Fair Stalls
January 1, 2018 - Present
Setting up stalls, displaying work, assisting customers, attracting attendees, working with sales and handling money, networking with other illustrators at fairs.
Animal Care Assistant at Endsleigh Garden Center
July 1, 2013 - July 1, 2013
Helped with customer service and on-floor assistance; daily checks on the animals to ensure they were healthy; deep cleaned the animals’ enclosures; fed a wide range of animals with varying diets including rodents, birds and reptiles.
Illustration Stall Volunteer at Illustration Fair Stalls
January 1, 2018 - Present
Setting up stalls and displaying artwork; offering help and assistance to customers; attracting customers; networking with other illustrators at fairs.
Mayflower Internship at University of Plymouth
December 1, 2020 - December 1, 2020
Worked with a professional client; developed core employability skills; problem solving; managed timesheets and finances; researched appropriate topics; arranged virtual meetings with client; applied feedback to work.
Online Store Designer / Seller at Self-employed
January 1, 2020 - Present
Designing online brand; handling online orders; packaging products; posting items; setting prices; dispatching items within a limited time period; designing online store and print-on-demand products; creating promotional product images and social media marketing.
Market Stall Operator
January 1, 2022 - Present
Packaging and selling products, handling a cash float, engaging with customers, setting up displays, displaying artwork, using a card reader, attracting customers and managing stock.
Freelance Children's Book Illustrator
January 1, 2020 - Present
Communicating with authors, negotiating prices, arranging meetings to discuss books, incorporating feedback, illustrating a variety of images, designing book layouts, producing covers, editing final versions, and self-publishing multiple children’s picture books. Strong collaborative ability.
Online Seller / Online Brand Designer
January 1, 2020 - Present
Designing online brand, handling orders, assisting customers, packaging and posting products, setting prices, dispatching items, designing online store, creating print-on-demand products, producing promotional images and marketing on social media.
Mayflower Internship at Plymouth University
December 1, 2020 - Present
Worked with a professional client, developed core employability skills, problem solving, managed timesheets and finances, thoroughly researched topics, arranged virtual meetings with client, and applied feedback to work.
Freelance Illustrator
January 1, 2018 - Present
Communicating with customers, negotiating prices, pursuing ongoing learning, running a freelance business, working across materials and styles, receiving and applying feedback, packaging and presenting work, working independently, handling payments and exchanges, proficient with Microsoft and Adobe software, comfortable on PC and Mac.
Volunteer – Illustration Fair Stalls
January 1, 2018 - Present
Setting up stalls, displaying artwork, assisting customers, attracting attendees, handling sales and money, networking with other illustrators.

Education

BA (Hons) Illustration Degree at University of Plymouth
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design & Media at Tor Bridge High
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
Advanced Subsidiary Fine Art at Hele's School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2016
Advanced Level Fine Art at Hele's School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2016
GCSEs (Art and Design, Religious Studies, Business and Communication Systems, English Literature, Media Studies, English Language, Science, Mathematics, Statistics) at Hele's School
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2014
BA (Hons) Illustration at University of Plymouth
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media at Tor Bridge High
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
Advanced Subsidiary Fine Art at Hele's School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2015
Advanced Level Fine Art at Hele's School
January 1, 2015 - January 1, 2016
GCSEs at Hele's School
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2014
BA (Hons) Illustration at University of Plymouth
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media at Tor Bridge High
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
A-Levels: Fine Art (Advanced Subsidiary) and Fine Art at Hele's School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2016
GCSEs: Art and Design; Religious Studies; Business and Communication Systems; English Literature; Media Studies; English Language; Science; Mathematics; Statistics at Hele's School
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2014
BA (Hons) Illustration Degree at University of Plymouth
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design at Tor Bridge High
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
A-Levels: Fine Art at Hele’s School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2016
GCSEs at Hele’s School
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2014
BA (Hons) Illustration at University of Plymouth
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media at Tor Bridge High
January 1, 2016 - January 1, 2017
A-Levels: Fine Art at Hele’s School
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2016
GCSEs at Hele’s School
January 1, 2009 - January 1, 2014

Qualifications

Ink Journal 2020 Winning submission
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
Plymouth University: Creative CV Competition 2020 Second place
January 1, 2020 - January 1, 2020
University of Plymouth Art Exhibition
January 1, 2017 - January 1, 2017
Rotary Young Artists Exhibition Highly Commended Award
January 1, 2014 - January 1, 2014
Ink Journal 2020 Winning Submission
January 11, 2030 - March 17, 2026
University of Plymouth Creative CV Competition - Second Place
January 11, 2030 - March 17, 2026
Rotary Young Artists Exhibition - Highly Commended
January 11, 2030 - March 17, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Computers & Electronics, Other, Media & Entertainment, Retail
    uniE621 Don't Hug Dug- Children's picture book
    A children's picture book that I illustrated and designed for self-publication by Francesca Lees. Don't Hug Dug is a book that teaches families about dog's body language and what signals they give off when they need space. Poppy loves her dog Dug and wants to show him how much she loves him but sometimes he needs space. Join Poppy as she discovers how to keep Dug happy and how to show him she loves him whilst learning all about dog body language signals. Don’t Hug Dug! is a fun picture book for children with an important message. A must-read for all families who own a dog or are thinking of adding a dog to their family. As someone who always loves to incorporate animals and nature in my illustrations, this project was amazing to work on. I am in love with the way it turned out, filled with texture, colour and little details to keep children entertained while reading. This project was budget-based and we worked out a payment plan that worked for us both, along with splitting royalties for the book 50/50 to help reduce upfront payments. Frankie self-published herself online using a private printing service. It was a pleasure working with Frankie on this book, and is still one of my favourite books I've worked on.…
    uniE621 Gracie and Mouse are Moving House- Children's Book Project
    A children's picture book that I illustrated and designed for self-publication by Naomi Tyrrell, PhD. Gracie is a girl who is moving house. She isn’t moving on her own though, she has her toy mouse! Find out what happens to Gracie and Mouse on moving day, when they make new friends and find new places to play! This children's picture book is available to purchase on Amazon, in both paperback and ebook formats. Perfect for children aged 3-8. This project was the first picture book I ever worked on (other than my own unfinished projects). I had just graduated from University and was taken on as an intern to help fund this book. This book is fun, creative and a lovely rhyming book to read with little ones. This book was partly funded, and 10% of royalties went to charity to help families in need. We share the remaining royalties 50/50. It was such a pleasure working with Naomi, who had a passion for helping families dealing with the difficulties of migrating, creating this book as an aid for young children to cope with the pressure of moving house.…
    uniE621 What Flutters Above- Children's picture book
    A children's picture book that I illustrated and designed to be self-published by Charles Dunrod. What Flutters Above is a heartfelt story about friendship, identity and the power of empathy. This story reveals the hardships of battling discrimination and the importance of celebrating diversity. Join Athena and her friends on this journey of discovering kindness to all. Perfect for children aged between 3-8. This project was a lovely project to collaborate on. It was a long picture book spanning over 40+ pages and was heavy with characters so the project took a while to do, especially as i was working through it during covid along with two pregnancies and maternity leave. We had an affordable payment plan in place that worked for us both, and we split the royalties for the book 50/50. This book is self-published through IngramSpark. It was a pleasure working on this book, especially getting to design and illustrate so many diverse characters in such a heartfelt story.…