Some of the ‘finest illustration in the world’

This is the first year that entrants from countries outside the UK have been accepted into the competition, which has been running for 37 years; in a decision aiming to ‘promote illustration as an essential contributor to global visual culture’, according to organisers.

As such, a shortlist of 15 winners from the USA, Australia and Israel is on show, alongside home-grown talent.

The winners of the competition are selected by an independent jury, with panelists for the 2013 leg including illustrators Stephen Collins and Ulla Puggaard, art directors from Walker Books, Royal Mail and Random House and a number of creative directors from design consultancies and digital agencies. The judging was chaired by writer and Varoom editor, John O’Reilly.

Two overall winners will be announced in the Professional Illustration categories, which is open to all practicing professionals, and the student and graduate New Talent category.

Among the winning work is this gorgeous, wet-nosed dog, by children’s book illustrator Levi Penfold:

And this eerie, paneled monochrome piece by Chinese artist Jun Chen:

And who’s this? It’s Kristen Stewart, rolling a cigarette!

AOI Illustration Awards 2013 work will be exhibited at Terrace Rooms, Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R from 2 – 27 October