Out on your own: the medical artist in private practice

It takes a special kind of determination and drive to succeed in self-employment. Natural artistic talent does not necessarily mean you are qualified to run a business. Today help is at hand. Books, teaching programmes and courses abound. For those who have been out of work for at least 8 weeks, assistance is available from the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, well worth looking into as there are free counselling sessions and an excellent back-up of support and advice to steer you towards setting up on your own. We have been hearing and reading much lately about cost recovery in departments within the NHS and universities. This is basically what the freelance medical illustrator has been coping with for years. In running a business the freelancer becomes manager, secretary, book keeper and consultant, as well as a professional illustrator. Once the decision has been taken to leave the safe surroundings of a salaried position, one changes from being a singular artist who is part of a team into a cost-effective, self-sufficient unit.