Zeegan, Lawrence and Cairns, Brian [contributor] (2020) The Fundamentals of Illustration, 3rd Edition. Bloomsbury, London. ISBN 9781474240390

Cairns, Brian (2025) A Critically Reflective Practice. In: Confia 2025: 12th International Conference on Illustration & Animation. Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Vila Do Conde, Portugal, pp. 369-377. ISBN 9789893533185

Cairns, Brian (2021) Adapting a Strategy of Cultural Inclusion in a Pandemic A Case Study in Agile Adaptation. In: Confia 2021: 9th International Conference on Illustration & Animation. Institutio Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Barcelos, Portugal, pp. 266-276. ISBN 9789895493968

Cairns, Brian (2021) Adapting a Strategy of Cultural Inclusion in a Pandemic: A Case Study in Agile Adaptation. In: CONFIA 2021: 9th International Conference on Illustration & Animation. Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Aveiro, Portugal, pp. 266-276. ISBN 978-989-54939-6-8

Cairns, Brian (2020) The Value of the Handmade in a Digital World. In: Confia 2020: 8th International Conference on Illustration and Animation, 23-24 October. Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Barcelos, Portugal, pp. 29-46. ISBN 978-989-54939-0-6

Zeegen, Lawrence and Cairns, Brian (2020) The Fundamentals of Illustration. In: The Fundamentals of Illustration (3rd Edition). Bloomsbury, London, p. 79. ISBN 978-1-4742-4039-0

Cairns, Brian (2019) Cultural Diversity in a Masters in Illustration: A case study in internationalisation. In: 7th International Conference on Illustration and Animation. Confia, 7 (7). Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Porto, Portugal, pp. 449-463. ISBN 978-989-54489-1-3

Cairns, Brian (2018) Mapping the Boundaries. In: Confia Conference. Confia: 6th International Conference on Illustration and Animation, 2018 (6th). Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave, Porto, Portugal, pp. 378-387. ISBN 978-989-99861-6-9

Cairns, Brian (2014) 100 Illustrators by Steven Heller & Julius Weidemann. In: 100 Illustrators. Taschen GmbH, USA / UK / Europe. ISBN 978-3836545228

Heller, Steven, Talarico, Lita and Cairns, Brian (2011) Typography Sketchbooks by Steven Heller & Lita Tararico. In: Typography Sketchbooks. Thames & Hudson, International / USA. ISBN 978-0500241387

Cairns, B. (2011) 3 x 3 International Awards. In: UNSPECIFIED 3x3, p. 298.

Cairns, Brian (2015) Stop Illustrating and Start Making Work. DART.

Cairns, B. (2011) Fundamentals of Illustration 2nd Edition.

Cairns, B. (2009) American Illustration 27.

Cairns, B. (2007) New Yorker. New Yorker: Glenlivet Originators Series.

Cairns, B. (2006) SEE / HermanMiller.

Cairns, B. (2005) Touch This: Graphic Design That Feels Good by Scott Witham.

Cairns, B. (2004) Handwritten: Expressive lettering in the Digital Age.

Cairns, B. (2004) Glasgow Herald. Herald Interview.

Cairns, B. (2004) Clin d'Oeil – A New Look at Modern Illustration.

Cairns, B. (2003) Interiors.

Cairns, B. (2003) Ridley Scott Associates.

Cairns, Brian (2025) Sketchbook Print. In: British Academy: Early Career Research Network, Scottish Cluster Exhibition and Conference, 10 November 2025, Victoria & Albert Museum, Dundee, Scotland.

Cairns, Brian (2025) Confia 2025: A Critically Reflective Practice. In: Confia 2025: 12th International Illustration and Animation Conference, 26.06.25 - 27.06.25, Vila Do Conde, Portugal.

Cairns, Brian (2023) How Critical Reflective Methods Can Inform Studio Practice. In: Prisms: Education Symposium, Icon12, 10 - 13 July 2024, Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA), Minneapolis, USA.

Cairns, Brian (2021) Cultural Inclusion on a Masters Programme: A Case Study in Internationalisation. In: iJade Annual Conference Hybrid Spaces: Re-imagining pedagogy, practice and research, 25 - 28 March 2021, Online.

Cairns, Brian (2015) Stop ‘Illustrating’ and Start Making Work - A Review of Contemporary Illustration Practice in Response to Rapid Change. In: ICON8, 9 - 12 Jul 2014, Portland, Oregon, USA..

Cairns, B. (2010) Adobe Education Summit / Adobe Max 2010 Conference , Los Angeles:. In: Speaker: Adobe MAX / Adobe Education Summit: An insight into the Epistemology and philosophy of the Visual Communcation at GSA..

Cairns, Brian (2025) Small Print Exhibition.

Cairns, Brian (2025) Caseroom Letterpress Print.

Cairns, Brian (2025) Small Print. New Glasgow Society, 1307 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland, 15 August - 17 August 2025

Cairns, Brian, Pickstone, Edwin, Hogg, Ross, Stark, Andy, Locke, Peter, Farrar, David and Kirkby, Ruth (2023) Offset Research Cluster Work in Progress Exhibition. CassArt, 63 - 67 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3EN, 16- 24 Sept 2023

Cairns, Brian (2019) Post-it Show 15. Giant Robot 2, Los Angeles, USA, 5 -15 Dec 2019

Cairns, Brian (2018) Post It Show 14. Giant Robot 2 Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 1 - 9 December 2018

Cairns, Brian (2018) 20 Years of Penguin Essentials. Ditchling Museum, Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft, Lodge Hill Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex, BN6 8SP, 6 January - 29 April 2018

Cairns, Brian (2017) Post-it Show 13 / Giant Robot 2, Los Angeles. Los Angeles, USA, 5 - 31 December 2017

Cairns, Brian (2016) Post-it 12 / Giant Robot 2 Gallery - Los Angeles. Giant Robot 2 Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 3 -11 December 2016

Cairns, Brian (2015) Giant Robot 2 Gallery, Los Angeles / Post - It 11.

Cairns, B. (2006) Design and Art Direction Global Awards 2006.

Cairns, B. (2004) American Illustrators 23.

Cairns, B. (2004) Design and Art Direction, in book, 2004.

Cairns, B. (2004) Society of Illustrators of New York, Gold Medal Award 2004.

Cairns, B. (2003) Art Directors Club of New York, 2003.

Cairns, Brian (2010) Design & Art Direction Annual 2010. Taschen GmbH.

Cairns, B. (2010) Creative Review 2004 Annual Awards. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2010) Illustration Now 2. Taschen GmbH, Germany.

Cairns, B. (2010) American Illustration 29. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2009) American Illustration 28. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2005) The Fundamentals of Illustration. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2004) Clin d'Oeil. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2004) Art Directors Club of New York. UNSPECIFIED.

Cairns, B. (2003) Creatuve Review Annual 2003. Best in Book/Howies. UNSPECIFIED.