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Difficult American turncoat with no independent source of pictures? (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

illustrator

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'source of pictures?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'difficult american turncoat with no independent' is the wordplay.
'difficult' becomes 'ill' (ill could historically mean difficult).
'american' becomes 'us' (abbreviation for United States).
'turncoat' becomes 'traitor' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with no' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'traitor' with 'i' taken away is 'trator'.
'ill'+'us'+'trator'='ILLUSTRATOR'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for illustrator that I've seen before include "Provider of pictures for book" , "Drawing artist" , "Creator of book pictures" , "One providing pictures for book" , "One who provides a book with pictures" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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