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Entries for the Folio Book Illustration Award closed on 26th May 2026.
Illustration sits at the very heart of Folio. We’re lucky to work with artists from all over the world, and we’re always excited to discover new voices – whether that’s through paint, print, pencil or pixels.
The Folio Book Illustration Award 2026 invited aspiring and established illustrators to respond to the opening chapter of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Quiet, unsettling and deeply human, those first pages offer rich ground for interpretation.
From more than 400 entries submitted by illustrators around the world, our judges have selected this year's Folio Book Illustration Award shortlist, runners up and winner. These 20 outstanding works showcase exceptional creativity, technical skill and original interpretation, representing the very best of this year's competition.
The 2026 Winner
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Folio Book Illustration AwArd Winner
Misha Chernov
Ukrainian illustrator Misha creates detailed, narrative-driven artwork inspired by history, mythology and classical literature. Drawing on influences ranging from dark academia to gothic and mystical aesthetics, his richly textured illustrations are designed to immerse readers and enhance the stories they accompany. A first-class BA (Hons) Illustration graduate from Falmouth University, he primarily works on fiction and non-fiction books, editorials and maps. Alongside illustration, he enjoys experimenting with calligraphy and typography, often creating bespoke lettering for book covers. Although he now works digitally, his distinctive style and love of texture remain strongly influenced by his background in lithography.
The 2026 Runners Up
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD RUNNER UP
Dillon Samuelson
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1 of 5
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD RUNNER UP
Federico Castellano
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2 of 5
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD RUNNER UP
María Calderon
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3 of 5
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD RUNNER UP
Nikki Smetters
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4 of 5
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD RUNNER UP
Tomislav Torjanac
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5 of 5
The 2026 Shortlist
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Alexandra Fesyun
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1 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Ann Dinh
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2 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Anna Solomon
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3 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Babitt Thomson
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4 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Camille Whitcher
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5 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Daniel Alejandro Pérez Cabrera
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6 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Dillon Samuelson
7 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Federico Castellano
8 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Jun Cen
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9 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Marcus Pereira
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10 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
María Calderon
11 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Martyna Biegała
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12 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Misha Chernov
13 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Nikki Smetters
14 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Norberto Perez
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15 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Susanna Höllrigl
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16 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Tomislav Torjanac
17 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Tristan Henry-Wilson
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18 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Veronika Zasadna
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19 of 20
FOLIO BOOK ILLUSTRATION AWARD SHORTLIST
Zoe Rispoli
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20 of 20
About Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a quietly devastating meditation on memory, love and what it means to be human. Narrated by Kathy H., the novel begins in the seemingly idyllic surroundings of Hailsham, an English boarding school where she and her friends grow up under the watchful eyes of their guardians. Yet beneath the rhythms of childhood – friendships, rivalries and small acts of kindness – lies a deeper mystery about the students’ purpose.
With extraordinary restraint and emotional precision, Never Let Me Go explores the ethics of science, the value of art and the endurance of the human spirit.
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