V&A announces Illustration Awards shortlist

The awards are given to the best book and editorial illustration published in the UK, as judged by a panel including V&A director of design Moira Gemmill; broadcaster Emma Freud and fashion designer Orla Kiely.

The 14 shortlisted entries are judged in three categories – book illustration; book cover and jacket illustration; and editorial publications. There is also a fourth category for students’ work, judged by the winners of last year’s award.

The shortlisted entries will be displayed at the museum from 11 June, when the winner will be announced. Each category winner is awarded £2000, with an additional £2000 given to the overall winner. The exhibition will run until 31 December.

Kiely says, ‘The world of illustration is so wide and varied that it is important to be able to stand out with your own individual style. This competition is the perfect platform for such talented illustrators to exhibit their diverse abilities and approaches to design.’

The shortlist is as follows:

Book Illustration

Laetitia Devernay for The Conductor (Chronicle Books)

Cathy MacLennan for Bunny Bunny Catkin (Boxer Books)

Rob Ryan for A Sky Full of Kindness (Hodder & Soughton)

Book Cover and Jacket Illustration

Petra Börner for Emma (Bonniers)

Matthew Richardson for The Outsider (The Folio Society)

Vicky White for Can We Save the Tiger (Walker Books)

Editorial

Luke Best for Chivalric Fiasco (Harper’s Magazine)

Nick Lowndes for Small Businesses (Financial Times)

Stefano Morri for Henry’s Demons (BBC Radio Times)

Student Awards

Daniel Clarke for Heygate Memories

Faye Coral Johnson for Nonsensical Thoughts

Rachel Lillie for Born Fighting

Joe Lyward for Fear

Holly Mills for Hothouse