First established in 1972, the V&A's competition is defined by a focus on the British illustration industry, celebrating artwork made for the UK market by artists from across the globe as well as artwork made by illustrators living the UK. We are excited to announce some changes in our categories to evolve the Awards further for 2024.
The Awards are generously supported by The Linder Foundation and the Moira Gemmill Memorial fund.
2024 Awards shortlist
The 2024 V&A Illustration Awards shortlist has now been announced! Click on the illustrator's name in each category to view more images of their work and a description of their design brief. Copyright of artists and publishers reserved.
Adult Fiction
Tina Berning, Lessons by Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape, 2022)
Olivia Daw, The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (The Folio Society, 2023)
Gerard DuBois, No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (The Folio Society, 2023)
Jorge González Varela, The Shadow of the Wind by Jorge González Varela (The Folio Society, 2023)
Neil Packer, The Complete Plays by William Shakespeare (The Folio Society, 2023)
Mu Pan, Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en (The Folio Society, 2023)
Matthew Richardson, Good by Matthew Richardson and Iris Murdoch, (Hoof & Claw Press/Matthew Richardson, 2023)
Andrea Serio, The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Vintage Classics, 2023)
Tina Berning, Lessons by Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape, 2022)
Olivia Daw, The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie (The Folio Society, 2023)
Gerard DuBois, No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (The Folio Society, 2023)
Jorge González Varela, The Shadow of the Wind by Jorge González Varela (The Folio Society, 2023)
Neil Packer, The Complete Plays by William Shakespeare (The Folio Society, 2023
Mu Pan, Monkey by Wu Ch'eng-en (The Folio Society, 2023)
Matthew Richardson, Good by Matthew Richardson and Iris Murdoch, (Hoof & Claw Press/Matthew Richardson, 2023)
Andrea Serio, The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Vintage Classics, 2023)
Adult Non-Fiction
Paul Blow, You Will Get it Wrong… But You Can’t Make it Worse by Cariad Lloyd, in The Guardian Magazine, 1 July 2023
George Butler, Drawn to War, in BBC, VQR and Suddeutchse Zeitung, 9 January 2023
Claire Harrup, Britain's Landmarks and Legends by Jo Woolf (The National Trust and HarperCollins, 2023)
Joanna Lisowiec, The Wisdom of Sheep & Other Animals by Rosamund Young (Faber & Faber, 2023)
Simon Pemberton, Climate and Conflict, in Acumen Magazine, 5 January 2023 (LeHigh University)
Alice Smith, The Physick Garden (Francis Lincoln, 2023)
Jennifer N. R. Smith, The Modern Bestiary by Joanna Bagniewska (Wildfire Books, 2023)
Maisy Summer, animation, Elsie Plant Hatting Hero (Hatworks Hat Museum, 2023)
Paul Blow, You Will Get it Wrong… But You Can't Make it Worse by Cariad Lloyd, in The Guardian Magazine, 1 July 2023
George Butler, Drawn to War, in BBC, VQR and Suddeutchse Zeitung, 9 January 2023
Claire Harrup, Britain's Landmarks and Legends by Jo Woolf (The National Trust and HarperCollins, 2023)
Joanna Lisowiec, The Wisdom of Sheep & Other Animals by Rosamund Young (Faber & Faber, 2023)
Simon Pemberton, Climate and Conflict, in Acumen Magazine, 5 January 2023 (LeHigh University
Alice Smith, The Physick Garden (Francis Lincoln, 2023)
Jennifer N. R. Smith, The Modern Bestiary by Joanna Bagniewska (Wildfire Books, 2023)
Maisy Summer, animation, Elsie Plant Hatting Hero (Hatworks Hat Museum, 2023)
Advertising and Commercial
Philipp Beck, Honest Toil Olive Oil packaging (Honest Toil, 2023)
Paul Blow, album cover for New Modern Homes by The Chesterfields (Mr Mellow's Music, 2022)
Sveta Dorosheva, Fantasy: Realms of Imagination exhibition visual (British Library, 2023)
Tom Jay, Fishing Boat in a Bottle card (Art Angels, 2023)
Michael Kirkham, World of James Joyce jigsaw (Laurence King Publishing, 2022)
Sammi Lynch, Burberry x Highgrove silk scarves (Burberry, 2023)
Simon Pemberton, London Philharmonic Orchestra campaign 2022/23 (London Philharmonic Orchestra, 2022)
Lisa Sheehan, Badrutt's Palace winter/summer brochure cover, 2022 (Tower Revue and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel)
Maisy Summer, Bookshop Day mural (Bookshop Day/Build Hollywood, 2023)
Philipp Beck, Honest Toil Olive Oil packaging (Honest Toil, 2023)
Paul Blow, album cover for New Modern Homes by The Chesterfields (Mr Mellow's Music, 2022)
Sveta Dorosheva, Fantasy: Realms of Imagination exhibition visual (British Library, 2023)
Tom Jay, Fishing Boat in a Bottle card (Art Angels, 2023)
Michael Kirkham, World of James Joyce jigsaw (Laurence King Publishing, 2022)
Sammi Lynch, Burberry x Highgrove silk scarves (Burberry, 2023)
Simon Pemberton, London Philharmonic Orchestra campaign 2022/23 (London Philharmonic Orchestra, 2022)
Lisa Sheehan, Badrutt's Palace winter/summer brochure cover, 2022 (Tower Revue and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel)
Maisy Summer, Bookshop Day mural (Bookshop Day/Build Hollywood, 2023)
Emerging Illustrator
Aditi Anand, Marigolds, 2023
Shuyan Chen, The Fliers of Gy, 2023
Shuyan Chen, King John, Act. IV sc. I
Joanna Cohn, A Storm at The Grange, 2022
Merran Coleman, A is for Aval – an A-Z of Cornish folklore, 2023
Heike Scharrer, Stilts, Bears & Skeleton
Mingxian Xiang, Melancholy life, 2022
Xin Zhang, Crusaders, 2021
Aditi Anand, Marigolds, 2023
Shuyan Chen, The Fliers of Gy, 2023
Shuyan Chen, King John, Act. IV sc. I
Joanna Cohn, A Storm at The Grange, 2022
Merran Coleman, A is for Aval - an A-Z of Cornish folklore, 2023
Heike Scharrer, Stilts, Bears & Skeletons
Mingxian Xiang, Melancholy life, 2022
Xin Zhang, Crusaders, 2021
Illustration for Children
Ella Beech, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (The Folio Society, 2023)
Coralie Bickford-Smith, The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure (Particular Books, 2023)
Alison Bryant, Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones (Folio Society, 2023)
Owen Gent, That's Nice, Love (Book Island, 2022)
David Mackintosh, My Dog, Hen (Prestel, 2022)
Benjamin Phillips, Alte Zachen / Old Things by Ziggy Hanaor (Cicada Books, 2022)
Bethan Welby, Phyllis & Grace by Nigel Grey (Scallywag Press, 2022)
Fiona Woodcock, Silver Linings (Harper 360, 2023)
Ella Beech, The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (The Folio Society, 2023)
Coralie Bickford-Smith, The Squirrel and the Lost Treasure (Particular Books, 2023)
Alison Bryant, Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones (Folio Society, 2023)
Owen Gent, That's Nice, Love (Book Island, 2022)
David Mackintosh, My Dog, Hen (Prestel, 2022)
Benjamin Phillips, Alte Zachen / Old Things by Ziggy Hanaor (Cicada Books, 2022)
Bethan Welby, Phyllis & Grace by Nigel Grey (Scallywag Press, 2022)
Fiona Woodcock, Silver Linings (Harper 360, 2023)
Prizes & Judges
Prizes
There is a winner and runner-up in each category. The five category winners each receive £3,000, and five runners-up receive £750.
An overall winner is named the Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year and receives an additional £5,000, with their artwork entering the V&A's collection.
Winners will be announced at the V&A South Kensington in September 2024 where selected artwork from each of the winners and runners-up will feature in a display.
Judges
Maru Aguzzi – founder and director of Gran Salón Mexico
James Albon – author and illustrator, winner of the 2022 V&A Illustration Awards Illustrated Journalism category
Tristram Hunt – Director of the V&A
Yasmeen Ismail – author, illustrator and animator, V&A Book Illustrator of the year 2014
Chris Riddell – illustrator and cartoonist
Terms & conditions | FAQs
These are the terms and conditions covering entry to all categories of the 2024 V&A Illustration Awards.
Terms and conditions
If you have more questions about the V&A Illustration Awards, please consult our frequently asked questions.
FAQs
History of the awards
The V&A has been running an illustration competition since 1972 when the Francis Williams Awards were presented for the best illustrated books. In 2004 new categories were introduced for Book Cover Design and for Editorial Illustration, covering illustration in newspapers, magazines and comics. The student category was created in 2005, with a runner-up prize introduced in 2009.
For the 2024 Awards a new category Advertising & Commercial has been introduced. We have realigned other categories to create Adult Fiction, Adult Non-Fiction and Illustration for Children. The student category has now expanded to become Emerging Illustrator.
View a selection of winning works from 1972 – present
Blog
The V&A Illustration Awards blog brings you the latest updates throughout the year including the shortlist and winner announcements. You can also hear from our previous winners and receive words of advice from former judges.
V&A Illustration Awards blog
Stay in touch
Contact: [email protected]
The Awards are generously supported by The Linder Foundation and the Moira Gemmill Memorial fund.
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