The Association of Illustrators (AOI) has announced Anna Mill as the Professional Overall Winner and Patrick Dias as the New Talent Winner. In addition, the first ever WIA cross category award winners are: Rod Hunt, who has won the Directory of Illustration Award, Thomas Paterson, who has won the AOI Members' Award, and Abi Langridge, who works under the pseudonym Paperface, has won the Society of Artists Agents Award for New Talent.
Anna Mill's epic 256-page graphic novel, Square Eyes, written with Luke Jones, won the Professional Books category, sponsored by NoBrow. The novel envisages a near-future city saturated with augmented reality creating a bright, shifting, enticing mirage drawn over the crumbling remnants of the old physical world. The project explores the current trends, cultures and behaviours of the internet by manifesting them as spaces, objects and characters, while telling a story that had moments of mystery, comedy, action and contemplation.
Experimental New talent Winner, Patrick Dias is a Toronto-based designer and animator. He has won the Overall New Talent award for his handmade sets and props for a short film that looks at the theme of 'connectivity', blending illustrative characters within the tactile world.
Rod Hunt has won the DI Award for his epic animated bumper for CVISION; he wins a page in the Directory and consultation. Thomas Paterson's winning project "Watching Brexit Fall Apart" has won him a year-long AOI membership and a suite of AOI publications. Paperface wins the SAA award, receiving a trial representation period with an SAA Agent with a focus on mentoring and career development.
All of this year's award winners are displayed alongside the full shortlist in a colourful, thought-provoking and inspiring exhibition at Somerset House. The exhibition, on view through July 28, gives an insight into the trends and ideas that are driving illustration today.
Image: Anna Mill