The Folio Book Illustration Award 2023 | Longlist Revealed

We are thrilled to announce the longlist for the Folio Book Illustration Award 2023! 733 illustrators from 58 countries entered, and 20 outstanding entries have been selected for the longlist. This free-to-enter award asked entrants to illustrate a single scene from Ursula Le Guin's The Fliers of Gy.

The winning entrant will receive a £2,000 cash prize plus a £500 Folio Gift Voucher and a portfolio review by the Folio Art Directors. Five runners-up will also receive a £500 Folio Gift Voucher and a portfolio review by the Folio Art Directors.

The judges, Folio Art Directors, Sheri Gee and Raquel Leis Allion, Folio Publishing Director, Tom Walker, Theo Downes-Le Guin and Folio Book Illustration Award 2022 winner, Evangeline Gallagher, will be looking for atmosphere and strong characterisation in the entries along with an ability to read and reflect the text. 

Judge Sheri Gee said 'There was a really high calibre of illustration that made judging the longlist a very difficult task. We loved so many of the depictions, so beautifully drawn and crafted. I know how hard it was to get from 733 to 20, I’m really looking forward to what discussion will come out of deciding the runners up and winner. It’s going to be a tough decision.'

Illustration is at the heart of everything we do at Folio. As well as commissioning renowned illustrators and artists, we also nurture new talent and champion artists who work across a diverse range of media, from oil painting and wood engraving to collage and digital illustration.  

The Folio Book Illustration Award offers the opportunity for aspiring and established illustrators to provide one piece of artwork in response to The Fliers of Gy. 

The winner will receive a prize of £2,000 cash plus £500 worth of Folio vouchers, and each of the runners-up will receive £500 worth of Folio vouchers. The winning artist and runners-up will also receive a portfolio review by the Folio art directors.

The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 who has not previously been commissioned by The Folio Society.