“Best book illustration” of the year announced

The Folio Society and House of Illustration have announced Alan Marks as the winner of their annual Book Illustration Competition for his work for Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse.

Freelance illustrator Alan receives £5,000 for the commission, and beat more than 400 entries to win the award. The runners-up were Sishirprithvi Bommakanti, Courtney Dyer, Catherine Fearnley, Agata Pankowska and D. G. Smith.

Courtney (Arts University Bournemouth), Catherine (University of Cumbria) and Agata (Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin University) were the three student winners.

House of Illustration director Colin McKenzie says: “Alan is a worthy winner – his binding was immediately arresting as an image and his illustrations evoked the book very powerfully for all of the judging panel,” while 2016 judge and 2015 BIC winner David McConochie adds: “I enjoyed both the quality of work and the exciting variety of approaches on show whilst judging. The winning illustrations were not only technically excellent but also reflected the tone of the book beautifully.”
 
Alan’s illustrated War Horse is published by The Folio Society this October.