Vocabulary · Jobs
Creative jobs in English
B1
Creative jobs in English: artists and photographers, musicians, actors and dancers, writers, film-makers and fashion designers. With British pronunciation (IPA) and examples.
Quick answer
Visual arts
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| artist(n.)“She's a famous artist.” | a person who makes paintings or sculptures | /ˈɑːtɪst/ |
| painter(n.) | an artist who works with a brush | /ˈpeɪntə/ |
| sculptor(n.) | an artist who shapes stone or wood | /ˈskʌlptə/ |
| photographer(n.) | a person who takes pictures with a camera | /fəˈtɒɡrəfə/ |
| illustrator(n.) | a person who draws pictures for books | /ˈɪləstreɪtə/ |
| graphic designer(n.) | a person who creates logos and posters | /ˈɡræfɪk dɪˌzaɪnə/ |
| cartoonist(n.) | a person who draws comics or funny pictures | /kɑːˈtuːnɪst/ |
Music
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| musician(n.)“He's a talented musician.” | a person who plays an instrument or sings | /mjuˈzɪʃn/ |
| singer(n.) | a person who uses their voice for songs | /ˈsɪŋə/ |
| composer(n.) | a person who writes music | /kəmˈpəʊzə/ |
| conductor(n.) | the leader of an orchestra | /kənˈdʌktə/ |
| guitarist(n.) | a person who plays the guitar | /ɡɪˈtɑːrɪst/ |
| pianist(n.) | a person who plays the piano | /ˈpɪənɪst/ |
| drummer(n.) | a person who plays the drums | /ˈdrʌmə/ |
| DJ(n.) | a person who plays records at parties | /ˌdiː ˈdʒeɪ/ |
Stage and performance
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| actor(n.)“He's a Hollywood actor.” | a person who plays roles in films | /ˈæktə/ |
| actress(n.) | a woman who plays roles in films | /ˈæktrəs/ |
| dancer(n.) | a person who moves to music on stage | /ˈdɑːnsə/ |
| choreographer(n.) | a person who creates dance moves | /ˌkɒriˈɒɡrəfə/ |
| performer(n.) | a person who entertains an audience on stage | /pəˈfɔːmə/ |
| comedian(n.) | a person who makes people laugh | /kəˈmiːdiən/ |
| magician(n.) | a person who does tricks that seem impossible | /məˈdʒɪʃn/ |
Writing and literature
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| writer(n.)“A bestselling writer.” | a person whose job is creating texts | /ˈraɪtə/ |
| author(n.) | the person who wrote a particular book | /ˈɔːθə/ |
| poet(n.) | a person who writes poems | /ˈpəʊɪt/ |
| novelist(n.) | a person who writes long stories | /ˈnɒvəlɪst/ |
| screenwriter(n.) | the person behind a film's story and dialogue | /ˈskriːnraɪtə/ |
| playwright(n.) | an author of stories for the theatre | /ˈpleɪraɪt/ |
| journalist(n.) | a person who reports the news | /ˈdʒɜːnəlɪst/ |
| editor(n.) | a person who checks and improves texts | /ˈedɪtə/ |
Film and production
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| director(n.)“A famous film director.” | the person who makes a film | /dəˈrektə/ |
| producer(n.) | the person who organises and finances a film | /prəˈdjuːsə/ |
| cinematographer(n.) | the person who controls the camera and light | /ˌsɪnəməˈtɒɡrəfə/ |
| film editor(n.) | the person who cuts and joins scenes | /fɪlm ˈedɪtə/ |
| sound engineer(n.) | the person who records and mixes audio | /saʊnd ˌendʒɪˈnɪə/ |
Fashion and design
| Word | Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| fashion designer(n.) | a person who creates new clothes | /ˈfæʃn dɪˌzaɪnə/ |
| stylist(n.) | a person who chooses clothes for others | /ˈstaɪlɪst/ |
| makeup artist(n.) | a person who prepares actors' faces | /ˈmeɪkʌp ˌɑːtɪst/ |
| interior designer(n.) | a person who decorates rooms and homes | /ɪnˌtɪəriə dɪˈzaɪnə/ |
| tattoo artist(n.) | a person who draws on skin with ink | /təˈtuː ˌɑːtɪst/ |
Common mistakes to avoid
Actress or actor?
Today, actor is often used for both men and women. Actress is still used (the Oscars have a Best Actress award), but less and less in modern newspapers. In Hollywood, more and more women call themselves actors.
Writer or author?
Writer is general: a journalist, a blogger or a screenwriter is a writer. Author is more formal and goes with a book: the author of this book.
PHO-to-gra-pher ❌: the stress moves
In photograph, the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf/. In photographer, it moves to the second syllable: /fəˈtɒɡrəfə/. The same thing happens in photography.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Creative jobs
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Frequently asked questions
Is it actor or actress for a woman?+
Today, many people use actor for both men and women. Actress is still common, for example in film awards (Best Actress at the Oscars) and in some newspapers. Many theatres and independent film-makers now prefer actor for everyone. Both words are correct.
What is the difference between writer and author?+
Writer is a general word for anyone who writes: a journalist, a blogger, a screenwriter or a novelist. Author is the person who wrote a particular book: Jane Austen is the author of Pride and Prejudice. So writer is more general.
What does director mean?+
Director has several meanings: (1) the person who makes a film, a play or an opera; (2) a manager in a company; (3) the head of a department. The context tells you which one. A film director makes films. For the head of a school, say head teacher (UK) or principal (US).
What is the difference between a fashion designer and a stylist?+
A fashion designer creates and draws new clothes. A stylist chooses clothes and a look for another person, for example for a photo or a concert. They are two different jobs: a fashion designer creates fashion, and a stylist dresses celebrities.
What is a performer?+
A performer is anyone who performs on stage in front of an audience: a dancer, a singer, a comedian or a magician. Artist is a wider word: it also includes people who paint or make sculptures.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/vocabulary/creative-jobs
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.