Cambridge School of Art graduate claims Macmillan illustration prize

María J Guarda from the Cambridge School of Art has won this year’s Macmillan Prize for Illustration with her story of a family in exile.

‘Paloma Flew’ is told through the eyes of a young girl and was chosen as the winner because of how it represented a family struggling with a life away from their own country.

Chris Inns, chair of the judges and art and design director at Macmillan Children’s Books, said: “Maria’s images have the ability to breathe life into the characters and connect emotionally with the audience. The way the family interact, their gestures and feelings are captured sensitively by Maria’s fluid colour washes and intricate line-work.”

This year Macmillan Children’s Books received more than 250 submissions from 44 different universities and colleges.

The second and third prizes were awarded respectively to Soojin Kwak for ‘Annie the Hatmaker’ (Kingston School of Art) and Marina Ruiz for ‘Your Home, My Home’ (Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin University).

The winning artwork, along with some of the highly commended pieces, will be on display at the Coningsby Gallery in London between 19th and 22nd June.

The Macmillan Prize For Illustration was set up 30 years ago by Macmillan Children’s Books in order to find new work from young artists. Previous winners include Emily Gravett, Lucy Cousins, Ross Collins and Morag Hood.