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The Macmillan Prize for Illustration 2024 has been won by Abi Bi for her picture book It’s Swing Time. She was named winner at the awards ceremony on Thursday 20th June, held at the Pan Macmillan offices in London.
Abi Bi has recently finished her degree in illustration at the Cambridge School of Art; she came second in 2023, with her entry Where’s Katie’s Cat? Second prize this year was awarded to Claire Lemp for Charles Makes Tea and third prize was awarded to Antara Rahman for Furlock. There are also 20 highly commended entries. All three winners this year studied at the Cambridge School of Art.
The prize was opened up to include all non-professional illustrators in the UK over the age of 18, not just students, in 2024. Chair of Judges, Chris Inns, art director at Macmillan Children’s Books, said a record 400 submissions had been received, up 45% on 2023. "Opening up the criteria to a wider group of non-professional illustrators has given us a large selection of different media in a range of styles to review. All the work was to a very high standard and showcased the wealth of great talent that is out there. In terms of themes, there remains a keen interest in emotional intelligence, kindness and empathy, but this year we have also noticed a change of tone and many entries offered us more upbeat, humorous and joyful stories."
Of the winner, Inns said: "Her watercolour art is expressive and joyful, and her images are so engaging that it almost disguises the huge amount of skill and artistry that goes into her book. Each scene is rendered in flowing lines and elegant brush work, and every page depicts a simple theme, but takes it in a different direction at each page turn, revealing a surprise that makes you chuckle every time. Her art has universal appeal and is perfect for children and the adults who read to them."
Abi Bi said: "My artwork reflects my connection with nature and the world around me. Skilled in both traditional and digital media, I enjoy creating imaginative and metaphorical pieces with vibrant colours and rich textures. I am incredibly honoured to have won the Macmillan Prize for Illustration this year. Each page of It’s Swing Time unfolds a different story of animals on a swing, and I hope everyone can enjoy the simple yet imaginative moments of swinging along with them."
The 2024 judging panel was a mix of external experts and the Macmillan Children’s Books team. Inns, as chair, was accompanied by Suzanne Carnell (publisher of Two Hoots) and Emily Ford (editorial director of Picture Books), Alex T Smith (How Winston Delivered Christmas, The Nutcracker), Camilla Reid (Who’s Cute, Five Little Ducks), Sharon King-Chai (Starbird, Counting Creatures), Lucy Bannerman (news reporter and children’s book reviewer at the Times) and Amanda Truman (owner of Truman Books, Leeds).
Over the years, this award has discovered many award-winning and bestselling talents, including Emily Gravett, Lucy Cousins, Ross Collins, Gemma Merino, Bethan Woollvin and Morag Hood. In 2021, Two Hoots published We Want Our Books by 2019 winner Jake Alexander and published Cara Rooney’s 2021-winning book, A Little World of Ants, in April this year. Becky Colvin won in 2023 and her debut picture book, The Great Green Island, will be published in 2025 on the MCB list.
The Macmillan Prize for Illustration was established in 1985, in order to stimulate new work from non-professional illustrators, and to help them take the first steps in their professional lives as illustrators of children’s books. The prize is open to all non-professional illustrators and the judges have no sight of the illustrators’ names. The first prize is worth £1,000, with the second prize worth £500, and the third prize worth £250. The criteria for the prize changed in 2023. Previously, only students in full or part-time higher education in the UK could enter. The prize is now open to all non-professional illustrators in the UK over the age of 18.