The Association of Illustrators (AOI) has appointed Andrew Coningsby, founder of Debut Art and The Coningsby Gallery, to its Board of Directors. Illustrator Roderick Mills is appointed to the post of Deputy Chairman, and Jacqueline Bissett joined to the Board.
"I'm honoured to have been elected to the Chair supported by the broad specialist knowledge of my fellow Board members and I hope we can expand on this skills base with support from a wider range of professional organisations," Coningsby said. "The world is, in many ways, a fast changing place and the AOI is now in an excellent position to actively engage in developing its range of services and programme of events further to help illustrators throughout their careers."
"At a time of great change for Illustration, new technology and the advent of the Internet revolution needs to be embraced and understood, both in terms of the new opportunities as well as what traditional values are core to the discipline," added Roderick Mills. "I hope my role will enable the AOI to help draw together those from the wider illustration profession."
New Board appointee Jacqueline Bissett brings a background in fashion illustration to the organisation. "I'm so thrilled to be welcomed on to the AOI board," she said. "I hope to bring invaluable first-hand knowledge and experience to the organisation as well as inject a little fun and frivolity which i consider to play a vital role in an illustrator's working life! Life begins at 40 so they say and I've no doubt that it'll be the same with the AOI."