Darren Gate wins Kelpies illustration prize

Independent Scottish publisher Floris Books has awarded the 2016 Kelpies Design and Illustration Prize to Darren Gate.

Gate won the prize for his cover design for Slugboy Saves The World by Mark Smith, which won the Kelpies Prize 2015.

Floris said the judges were impressed by Gate’s “bright, colourful and fun design” that showed “a good awareness of the audience for the book”. He beat off competition from nine other www.thebookseller.com/news/shortlist-announced-kelpies-design-prize-322039">shortlisted designers to win a £250 cash prize. He will also work with Floris to create the final cover for Slugboy Saves the World, which will be published in October under the Kelpies imprint.

Edinburgh College student Grisel Miranda, also shortlisted for the award, was the “people’s choice” and received a £75 cash prize.

Leah McDowell, design and production manager at Floris Books, said: “Scottish design and illustration is in excellent health. We’ve had more entries than ever before and we were delighted by the variety of design interpretations and the creativity shown by all of the entrants.”