BATSFORD PRIZE

The Batsford Prize winners 2020–2021

Batsford and Pavilion Children’s Books are delighted to announce the winners of the Batsford Prize 2020–2021. The theme for the 2020–2021 award was ‘Our Planet’ and the judges looked for entries that showed innovative and well-crafted interpretations of the theme, in terms of subject or materials used, or a combination of the two.

The judges, Eleanor Crow, Vaughan Grylls, Anne Kelly, Emily Haworth-Booth, Neil Dunnicliffe and Tina Persaud selected the winners and runners up across the four categories Applied Art & Textiles, Fine Art, Illustration and Children’s Illustration. New for this year was the People’s Choice Award, where the winner and runners up were decided by the public, from the judges’ shortlist.

The winner of each category received a £500 cash prize and books from Batsford and Pavilion Children’s Books.

View previous years’ winners here.

APPLIED ART & TEXTILES

Winner

Fragments

Megan Stavaru, MA Textile Design, Norwich University of the Arts

Fragments focusses on a variety of techniques. Inspired by cultural preservation and tradition, this series evidences influences from Romania. The traditional wall carpet has allowed me to develop a sustainable / economical ethos which creates a positive impact on our planet.

Runners up

Crystalline Florals

Emily Lawrence, BA (Hons) Textiles, Arts University Bournemouth

A floral themed textiles collection for fashion. Inspired by the vibrant energy a small garden can contain during summer; something I hadn’t fully appreciated until the 2020 lockdown began. Created using a combination of digital print, hand painting techniques and embellishments.

I Spy With My Little Eye

Sophie Downes, BA (Hons) Textile Design, The Glasgow School of Art

Playing with the unpredictability and irregular finds of this game, I aim to celebrate the chaotic charm of this childlike pastime through a collection of conversational, printed and heavily embellished textiles.

FINE ART

Winner

Fertility Revolution – Surrogacy

Yu Shang, Visual communication, graphic design pathway, Royal College of Art

When the uterus becomes a tool or commodity, women are then again objectified.

Runners up

The Echo of Our Breath

Yifeat Ziv, MA Sound Arts, London College of Communication, University of the Arts London

The Echo of Our Breath is a CO2 sensor-based multimedia installation, comprised of sound and video materials that were captured in the Amazon rainforest. Constantly affected by the changing amount of CO2 in space, as a result of people’s breathing, this installation offers a timespace where the unseen impact of our own presence can be sensed through sound.

The Regenesis of Energy

Katerina Evangelou, PhD in Art and Design, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London

This Art Series symbolises the Regenesis/Rebirth of Our Planet. Regenesis can only be achieved through Renewable Energy. In the Series each different Artwork represents a different type of Renewable Energy. The Artworks are abstract because Energy is an abstract force. Energy is visualised in vibrant, dynamic compositions through colour/texture/fluctuating forms.

ILLUSTRATION

Winner

Happy Days?

Liam Tooher, Graphic Design, Nottingham Trent University

A selection of Black and White illustrative posters designed on photoshop depicting the sad ironies of our planet today, from rising food waste correlating with rising food bank usage to overcrowded refugee boats and billion pound oligarchic yachts.

Runners up

It’s as if skin contains land and birds

Daniel Converio, BA Illustration, Falmouth University

Mixed process, designed traditionally and then coloured digitally. A picture inspired by a quote from the book ‘Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World’, by Linda Hogan.

Wildlife

Daniela Sosa, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University

A wordless love story about returning to nature.

CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION

Winner

Hello Nomads

Kin Choi Lam, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University

These illustrations are part of my non-fiction book about three nomadic families. They are Mongolia, Nenets and Berbers.

Runners up

A Book of Biophilia

Cathy Eliot, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University

A children’s picturebook showing hard-to-translate words from different languages, describing special experiences in nature. Video of the dummy book can be found here.

Sometimes I Am

Sidsel Lindhagen, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University

A poetic illustrated book about Alzheimer seen from the perspective of the sufferer. The text and images are well suited to many ages and also as a conversational piece on the theme when reading for younger children. Some of the artwork is finished. The visual language is not traditionally cohesive. Video of the book can be found here.

The People’s Choice Award

Winner

I Spy With My Little Eye

Sophie Downes, BA (Hons) Textile Design, The Glasgow School of Art

Runners up

That Night

Evie Fridel, MA Children’s Book Illustration, Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University

Two sisters find out their father is in hospital and go on a journey through a long dark night. The ocean around them reflects their emotional state. See more here.

It’s as if skin contains land and birds

Daniel Converio, BA Illustration, Falmouth University

Mixed process, designed traditionally and then coloured digitally. A picture inspired by a quote from the book ‘Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World’, by Linda Hogan.