Images 36: Best of British Illustration

The exhibition presents the winning work of over 50 artists from the length and breadth of the UK who entered the AOI's annual flagship competition. Following its London launch, the exhibition will visit UCA Maidstone from 26 April to 24 May 2013 as part of its national tour.

It features exciting new talent and established names such as Rod Hunt (Where's Stig?), Chris Haughton (Booktrust best new illustrator), Lizzie Mary Cullen (Design Week's 50 Hot people), Stephen Collins (Jonathan Cape/ Observer Graphic Short Story Prize 2010), Steve May (shortlisted for British Animation Award 2008) and Olaf Hajek (AA Directors Club, Europe Gold Award 2003).

The exhibition is free and open to the public weekdays 9.30am-5.30pm.

                                    Image by Anuska Allepuz

Alumni: Ian O’Shea

Recent graduate of the course Ian O’Shea has published a beautiful book of monotypes and pen and ink drawings with LMNOP. The book is called Antarctic Survivors and is based on the story of Thomas Crean, one of the members of 1912 Scott Expedition. Full of beautifully crafted, atmospheric imagery, it is highly recommended!

Function of Folk in Krakow

We are back from Krakow, where the Function of Folk exhibition and illustration research symposium took place. The Ethnographic museum provided two fantastic venues and very kindly presented exhibits from their own collection alongside contemporary guest artists. We saw beautiful work by Andrzej Klimowski, Jonny Hanna, Alexa Galea and many others! Among the exhibitors was UCA Illustration lecturer Iro Tsavala and visiting lecturer Mireille Fauchon.The Function of Folk exhibition is on until the 30^th of December. 

Definitely worth visiting the exhibition, as well as the main collection of the ethnographic museum - the range of artefacts is breathtaking!

exhibits from the museum's collection

Iro Tsavala

Alexa Galea

Jonny Hannah

UCA Illustration at New Blood 2012

Third year students had a great stand at D&AD New Blood in Spitalfields this year. Showcasing 'vivid and aggressive work' that stood out from the crowd. We had a great review on the Creative Review blog. Here's the gang putting up the show. Well done everybody!

Penguin Design Award Shortlist 2012

Two Year 3 students have been shortlisted for the Penguin Design Award this year. The brief was to design and illustrate Grimm's Fairy Tales. Well done to Zoe Sutton and Esther Farmer.

Zoe Sutton

Esther Farmer

Year 2 illustration show

Joanna Keys, Abbey Massey and a small friend selling a selection of handmade books at the 2nd year end of year show "Lead". Held in the George Rodger gallery at Maidstone, it was a triumph. They are looking particularly happy to have prized £2.50 out of me for a catalogue. A bargain as it turned out, as it will inevitably become a collectors item.

Course Leader Neil Breeden ensuring quality control over the various refreshments available.

Some damn fine work by the student known as Lucy Parris. This is just a taster, more soon.

Comica

We had a great day at Comica last Saturday April 21^st.

Current students and staff as well as recent graduates of the course showed their books and zines – all very unique and beautifully made. We enjoyed the live drawing taking place in the Great Hall of Bishopsgate Institute with creators including Tom Gauld, Simone Lia, Darryl Cunningham, Andi Watson, Mark Stafford & many more…

We saw some great new books by NoBrow and we discovered Aben Maler, a small Danish publishing company with very interesting titles – have a look here. We had fantastic feedback and we look forward to coming back in November with more books, zines and prints!

http://abenmaler.dk/english/

http://www.comicafestival.com/