Shortlist for 2017 V&A Illustration Awards showcases the best emerging and established talent

Today, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has announced the shortlisted artists for the 2017 V&A Illustration Awards to celebrate the best of book, editorial and student illustrations published over the last year.

Written By: Katy Cowan

21 April 2017

From the inventive storytelling of Beatriz Lostalé Seijo’s The Odyssey to the humorous homage to Hokusai in A. Richard Allen’s Trump Wave, this years’ shortlist shows that illustration has never been more diverse, innovative and inter-disciplinary. All the winning artworks will be displayed at the V&A, on the landing outside the National Art Library from 17 May – 20 August 2017.

The winners of each of the four categories – best-illustrated book, book cover design, editorial illustration and student illustrator – will be announced during the official awards ceremony at the V&A on 16 May 2017, and will each receive £3,000 and a trophy.

The overall winner will receive an additional £5,000 and will be honoured with the Moira Gemmill Illustrator of the Year Prize, named in memory of the late Moira Gemmill, the V&A’s former Director of Design. The competition has been running since 1972. Previous winners of the Illustration Awards include Sir Quentin Blake, Ralph Steadman, Posy Simmonds, Sara Fanelli, and Yasmeen Ismail.

The Shortlist

2017 Student Illustrator of the Year

Lucy Waldman (UCA Farnham; BA Illustration): Favela Life
Beatriz Lostalé Seijo (Anglia Ruskin, MA Book Illustration): The Odyssey
Emily Evans (RCA; MA Visual Communication): Blood Antiquities
Thomas Hedger (UAL CSM; BA Graphic Design) Petrol Stations
Tom Spooner (RCA, Visual Comms): Towards an Infinite Place

Blood Antiquities by Emily Evans | Credit: © Emily Evans

Petrol Station 1 by Thomas Hedger | Credit: © Thomas Hedger

The Odyssey by Beatriz Lostale Seijo | Credit: © Beatriz Lostale Seijo

Towards an Infinite Space by Tom Spooner | Credit: © Tom Spooner

Favela Life by Lucy Waldman | Credit: © Lucy Waldman

Book Illustration

Benji Davies for Storm Whale in Winter (London: Simon & Schuster, 2016)
Anna+Elena Balbusso for Twelfth Night (London: The Folio Society, 2016)
JARVIS for Alan’s Big Scary Teeth (London: Walker Books, 2016)

Twelfth Night – book illustration by Anna and Elena Balbusso | Credit: © Anna and Elena Balbusso

Big Scary Teeth – book illustration by Jarvis | Credit: © Jarvis

Book Cover Design

Joe Cardielo for Aubrey's Brief Lives (London: The Folio Society, 2016)
Aino-Maija Metsola ‘Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf Series’ (Vintage, 2016)
Lizzy Stewart for There’s a Tiger in the Garden (Frances Lincoln, 2016)

Mrs Dalloway – book cover design by Aino Metsola | Credit: © Aino Metsola

There's a Tiger in the Garden – book cover design by Lizzy Stewart | Credit: © Lizzy Stewart

Editorial Illustration

Gary Neill for ‘Brexit – What Next’, published in Health & Safety
A.Richard Allen for ‘Trump Wave’, published in The Sunday Telegraph Money
Nick Lowndes for ‘Samuel Johnson’, published in The Economist

Trump Wave – editorial illustration by A. Richard Allen | Credit: © A. Richard Allen

Julius Bryant, Keeper of Word & Image, said: "Supporting contemporary artists, designers, and illustrators has always been at the heart of the V&A’s mission. That’s why the V&A Illustration Awards recognises both student and published work, to help aspiring illustrators break into the graphic arts and publishing industries. The first year after completing a course is often the most difficult in terms of building a career. The accolade of winning an award and sharing a platform with established artists can be crucial in this process."

The judging panel for the published categories comprises Jane Scherbaum, former V&A Head of Design, Loyd Grossman, broadcaster, gastronome and art historian, and bestselling author Beryl Kingston. For the 2017 Student Illustrator of the Year Award, the judging panel is comprised of John O’Reilly, Editor of Varoom magazine and 2016 V&A Illustration Awards winner, Jason Brooks.