World Illustration Awards 2015 – Call for Entries Now Open

For nearly four decades, the AOI has presented the most comprehensive and significant awards for illustration in the UK. Now, for the first time in the history of the organisation they welcome an international partner, the Directory of Illustration, to create the World Illustration Awards 2015, honouring the most inspiring illustration throughout the world.

Illustration (C)  Laurindo Feliciano

The call for entries is open!

Work entered into the World Illustration Awards will be reviewed by a jury of distinguished and international industry professionals. The competition shortlist reflects exceptional work by illustrators currently making an outstanding contribution to visual culture and is published in full on theaoi.com, which receives over 100,000 hits per month.

Award winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at Somerset House, the major arts and cultural centre in the heart of London. Selected works will be displayed in their spectacular Terrace Rooms. Following this the exhibition tours to multiple venues across the UK, which receives approximately 40,000 visitors during its run.

Selected works will also be showcased in an accompanying publication, which will be circulated to all major commissioners of illustration.

ENTER NOW

Who Can Enter?

The World Illustration Awards are open to illustrators working in ANY medium, context or geographical location. Work must be entered as either a New Talent entry or a Professional entry.

New Talent entrants are Undergraduate Students, Post-Graduate Students or Graduates within two years of graduation. Professional entrants are all other professional illustrators.

What Can Be Entered?

Work can be entered by the creator of the work (illustrator, student /new graduate) or by any third party such as an Agent, Designer, College, Publisher or Commissioner.

Work entered for the competition must have been created or published between 1st January 2014 to February 2015. Work in ANY medium can be entered in ANY category.

Entries can either be Single Image Entry (one image per entry) or Multiple Image Entry (up to 5 images per entry). Single or Multiple Entries can be entered in any category, depending on the size of the project or number of images within it. Multiple Entries are more expensive and should therefore be used to showcase different elements of the same project (multiple illustrations, spreads from a book and so on).
Professional entries must have been commercially commissioned for all categories except Public Realm and Self-Initiated Work.

New Talent entries do not have to be commercially commissioned and should be entered into the category that is most relevant to the work. For example, a college project creating a picture book should be entered as a New Talent entry in the Children's Book Category.

Work must be entered into one of the 8 Categories. These are very broadly defined to welcome work of all types and in all contexts where illustration is used.

Cost of Entry

Single Entry

UK & EU - £25 (including VAT) per entry
ROW - £20.83 (no VAT) per entry

Multiple Entry
UK & EU - £45 (including VAT) per entry
ROW - £37.50 (no VAT) per entry

Key Dates

Midday Monday 9 February 2015
Call for Entry closes

April 2015
Shortlisted work announced

June 2015
Category Winners announced

October 2015
Awards Ceremony
Awards Exhibition opens at Somerset House
Awards Catalogue published

November 2015
Exhibition starts 12-month national tour

Mountwood School for Ghosts cover illustration by Alex T Smith

Toby Ibbotson is the son of award-winning author Eva Ibbotson and Mountwood School for Ghosts is his debut novel about ghosts going to school to learn a thing or two about being scary. The story is based on an idea conceived with Eva, and planned out in detail by the two of them before her death. Alex T Smith was delighted to be commissioned by Macmillan to illustrate this cover along with the reissues of four of Eva's well known children's novels: Which Witch, The Secret of Platform 13, Monster Mission and The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

Alex T Smith is represented by Arena

World War One illustrated by Frances Castle

This month we have commemorated armistice day and this year is one hundred years since the outbreak of World War One. Frances Castle was commissioned by the BBC to illustrate a series of images to demonstrate to school children, what life was like in Britain during the Great War for the BBC Primary History website. She covered subjects such as the causes of the war, a typical school day and how developments in technology, communications and weapons during the war, changed the way it was fought.

Frances Castle is represented by Arena

Just Published: FAERY TALES illustrated by Tomislav Tomic

Disappear to faraway lands of wicked witches, evil monsters and brave heroines in Carol Ann Duffy's stunning collection of Faery Tales, beautiful illustrated by Tomislav Tomic. This gift set collection of stories is a published just in time for Christmas, by Faber and Faber. Tomislav has created ethereal images of the Poet Laureate's interpretations of classic stories such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and the Pied Piper of Hamelin. He also designed and hand rendered the illuminated letters throughout the book as well as the title for the cover.

Tomislav Tomic is represented by Arena

Chris Price and Delisia Howard / Andaz Hotel Guest Room Installation

Chris Price collaborated with Delisia Howard on this ‘Pearly Room’ mural for Andaz Hotel in East London. The couple created the artwork as part of the 'Room with a View' art series. The work depicts local landmarks and is a celebration of the best of East London life.

Chris Price is represented by Début Art

Neasden Control Centre / Percy & Founders Perspective Installation

Debut Art was approached by Cubbitt House to help on a project for their new restaurant, Percy and Founders, opening soon in Fitzrovia, London. The brief was to create a perspective installation of the company logo on the site of the new restaurant. The video of the installation would then be used on the restaurant's holding page. Steve Smith AKA Neasden Control Centre is no stranger to large scale installations so his skills were called upon and he soon set to work. The time lapse video of the installation can be seen here

Pastiche illustrations by Max Schindler

Pastiche artist Max Schindler was  commissioned to produce a number of illustrations which were briefed and  based on the various legal scenarios depicted in law magazine  "Legal Business".

He was asked to  create  some  images which were lively and interesting  and  created in style to designers and artists of the bygone past, including Saul Bass.

Max is a very accomplished artist  in his own right but finds he can turn a hand to most image styles when asked  and is  therefore a very reliable  and talented pastiche artist on the books of Artist Partners.

www.artistpartners.com/portfolios/max_schindler/index.html

Larry Rostant for Macmillan

James Annal  art director at Macmillan Publishers commissioned Larry Rostant to produce these wonderful cinematic and striking covers for the top British Sci-fi writer  Peter F. Hamilton's  new  title and hefty backlist.

These beautiful stylish covers,  are very much of the film poster  and video game genre ...

Larry Rostant is well known for producing stunning photographic covers in the science fiction and fantasy areas of publishing  and so this was the ideal commission and a great tribute to his work - James Annal who produced the design  has included unique and stunning spines, which are made of  stripes of colours which should help make the books stand out from others on the shelves!

For more of Larry's work please go to the Artist Partners  website : www.artistpartners.com/portfolios/larry_rostant/bookcovers/index.html

The Lynx Axe Range

Chris Ede works on a mammoth packaging commission for the Lynx/Axe brand.

Art directed by Utd Studio, Chris has designed nine packaging illustrations for these box sets which are hitting the shelves for Christmas. Chris has created masculine, urban and attractive artworks and says "The brief was to capture the essence of each deodorant brand logo name in the form of an illustration within a dynamic triangular framework."

Steve Gilligan of Utd Studio says of Chris's part in the project:-

"Upon finding Chris Ede within the www.illustrationweb.com site we were immediately struck by the depth and intricate layering of his artwork. A three way paid creative pitch ensued with Chris bringing a level of story telling that captured the essence of the fragrance and hit the brief bang on. Selecting Chris as the winner was simple!

Chris quickly got up to speed and worked tirelessly both with the commissioning agency and the ultimate end client to work through a series of 9 illustrations Chris began with mood boards and rough sketches that provided the heart of his vision. Then following feedback he worked through the range with creativity, craft and professionalism. Even towards the end when a couple were tough to crack, Chris continued to work with the same level of enthusiasm as he began the project.

The final result was a creative yet cohesive range of gift packs that each had their own unique visual story and a very happy client."

Chris Ede is represented by Illustration

A Debenhams Christmas Campaign

'FOUND IT' is the 2014 Debenhams Christmas Campaign; created by Nina Hunter and commissioned by JWT London.

Nina was involved from the concept stage where the "found it" idea was in its primary form. Going through various design stages and looks - from a bold to a more decorative style, the result is a simple effective design. The idea was to create the "found it" keyword from beautiful Christmas icons, Nina says "It was a fantastic experience working with the art directors at JWT. I enjoyed the creative process and loved how each stage was unique and beautiful. I'm very proud of this highlight in my career".

Nina Hunter is represented by Illustration Ltd.