The annual Paula Heister Illustration Prize celebrates outstanding MA Children’s Book Illustration portfolios or book projects presented at the graduate exhibition, honouring the life, creativity, and generosity of Paula Heister, a gifted student whose work and spirit continues to inspire our community.
With awards of £1,000 for the winner and £500 for the runner-up, the prize recognises creativity, originality, and excellence in children’s book illustration.
It is judged by a panel of staff along with an external publishing professional, based on criteria that focus on bold experimentation with materials, formats and subject matter – reflecting the qualities that distinguished Paula’s own work, including a nuanced personal perspective, bringing expertise from other fields, and inventive visual storytelling.
The prize celebrates Paula’s creative spirit and inspires students to pursue ambitious, original projects.