ITSme Learning

Ed is the CEO of ITSme and author of the E.F.E.C.T.S charter! He has been instrumental in bringing the world’s top Agencies together to join the ITSme Society and follow the progressive practices they aspire to, from carbon net zero to diversity and inclusion. Ed started as an illustrator in 1988, later founding Advocate Art in 1992. He has been on both sides of the Agent management table understanding what it is to be a freelance illustrator as well as being an agent through to running a global Artist Agency. He has been a senior manager or on the board of eight prominent artist-related businesses in his career of 35 years, but now devotes his time to helping support Artist Agencies with business advice and support finance. “I am always happy to share my experiences of the industry to help new or established illustrators further their careers, I am especially passionate about seeing our E.F.E.C.T.S. charter make a real difference and leave a lasting legacy.”

Bhavi is our Learning Academy’s Creative Director. Her experience in all things illustration began with Advocate when interning in university, where she studied Illustration. After graduating with a 1st Class Honours, she spent 2.5 years working at the Royal Academy of Arts as an Exhibitions & Art Sales Coordinator, before rejoining Advocate Art as an Artist Agent. Having worked with Publishing and Licensing clients across the UK over the last 5 years, she now works as the company’s Senior Art Director and Licensing Manager, where her main focus remains working with clients on a range of projects across Greeting Cards, Picture Books, Middle Grade Fiction and Chapter Books. Having built a strong rapport with artists, it’s equally important to Bhavi that she has a hands-on approach with our artists, helping to develop their portfolios to bring a range of commercial, on trend styles to the Publishing industry every year.

Amanda is Advocate’s Global Manager, having been with them since 2016. She received her BFA in Illustration from Parsons in 2015 which helped her hone a keen eye when briefing artists; a self-professed visual person, art and aesthetics are something she takes pride in being knowledgeable in, and she is always on the lookout for the latest trends and styles. Amanda loves being able to help nurture and grow artists’ talent, as well as being able to link up the right client, artist, and project – especially when she gets to see the final result on store shelves. Key clients include: American Greetings, Hallmark, Running Press, Design Design, Scholastic and Dinardo. In her free time, Amanda likes traveling, reading (mostly fairytales and myths), window shopping at NYC’s premier boutiques, baking, and spending time with my Chihuahua.

Tina is Creative director and agent at Astound US Inc. She has always had a deep appreciation for Illustration and imagined herself having a life-long career in the Arts. In pursuit of her dream career, she attended college and received a B.F.A in Illustration and a minor in Multimedia Communications which helped to facilitate her roles as an Art Director and Graphic Designer. She has worked in Children’s Publishing Industry, Board Game Publishing, and in Visual Merchandising. She is a multidisciplinary thinker who has excelled at working with a variety of teams, ranging from editors and art directors to licensors and packagers. Her expertise is centered on building bridges between creative conceptualization, design, and implementation. Tina is very passionate about working with clients and artists to create contemporary and distinctive products. Key clients include: American Girl/Mattel, Sleeping Bear Press, Beaming Books, Lerner, and Cottage Door Press.

Vickie is an artist agent at Advocate Art. She has a degree in illustration, but the majority of her career has been spent in design and project management for children’s products, apparel, and toys, working with both licensed and private label clients. Vickie has a deep-seated love of illustration and helping bring beautiful art to the world! Since working at Advocate Art, she has had the opportunity to be a part of some fantastic projects, such as “Vivienne in Paris”, illustrated by Emanuela Manello for Mascot Books, which won the Mom’s Choice Award and was featured on NBC, and “This is the Sun” illustrated by Evelyn Andrya for Science Naturally, which won the Creative Child Book of the Year Award and Tillywig Toy and Media Award. Vickie currently resides in the Hudson Valley with her two cats. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, long hikes, needle felting, and spotting funky fashion around the city. She deeply enjoys helping emerging talents to reach their full potential.

Deb is an artist agent at Advocate Art. She has experience in all stages of product development for Everyday & Christmas greeting ranges. This gives her impeccable insight into what makes the best-selling commercial designs. If you want to discover what makes the best-selling Father Christmas, just ask her, she is proud to be a cardy. Since working at Advocate Art she has had the opportunity to be a part of some fantastic book projects as well, including Magic Max, written by Stephen Mulhern and illustrated by Begoña Fernández Corbalan, which is an Amazon #1 Best Seller! Deb grew up in Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of the Potteries, the world capital of ceramics. Her passion for Illustration started at art college where she went on to graduate from the Illustration course at Swansea Metropolitan in 2003.