The SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards recognise the talent of PAL published Australian children’s illustrators, in visual narrative for picture books and graphic novels from early childhood to young adult. The Award is managed by SCBWI Australia East & New Zealand and is funded by the Copyright Agency.
There are three categories – Established, Developing and Emerging Illustrator Award with prize money to assist an illustrator with the creation of a new visual narrative picture book or graphic novel.
Thank you to our judges:
Laurent Linn for final selections. Lisa Berryman, Anna McFarlane, Nancy Conescu for the Shortlist
And the Winners Are…
Established Illustrator Award:
Winner: GABRIEL EVANS
Together with his impressive established body of work and clear storytelling skills, Gabriel Evans’s submitted project stood out as extremely thoughtful and unique. Artistically, his illustration work shows curiosity, emotion, humor, energy, and imagination, which carry through a range of art techniques and points of view—all aimed at how a child might see the world. Gabriel’s project, dealing with loss, grief, and healing, combines a gentle narrative for young children with very creative illustration and use of the picture book medium. And his desire to use some of the award funds to consult with professionals in the fields of children’s grief and trauma speaks to the respect and relevance of his project.
Honour Award: TRACE BALLA
In her body of work and portfolio, Trace Balla’s unique illustration and storytelling styles show a wonderful balance of seemingly simple art techniques layered with complex and thorough research—all distilled into accessible narratives. Creatively using the graphic novel format, her submitted project stood out not only for its extensive and eye-opening research, but also for its well-crafted narrative of learning about community and our deep connection to nature with respect given to Australia’s communities and wildlife. The illustration skillfully carries a reader along with varied compositions that introduce new and fascinating views of our world. Trace’s plan to use some of the award funds towards compensation for research with First Nations Peoples and ecologists was also impressive.
Honour Award: EMMA QUAY
Emma Quay’s artistic body of work displays creative and playful experimentation and exploration of varied illustration and narrative techniques—all which skillfully express humor, kindness, and childhood discovery.
Developing Illustrator Award:
Winner: Matt Chun
Matt Chun’s body of work shows a wide range of expertise in varied illustration styles and diversity of artistic focus. While displaying many techniques, a dedication to subject matter and narratives carries throughout. Matt’s submitted project stood out as a well-considered exploration to craft a graphic novel for children that showcases the caring relationship between child and guardian, a child’s growing independence, then how they must deal with disruption of domestic family life—a theme that is all-too real in our world. The sensitivity of presenting a difficult topic to children in an accessible and gentle way is impressive, as is the experimentation with narrative illustration to bring the reader into the book’s world.
Emerging Illustrator Award:
Winner: Dinalie Dabarera
In her portfolio and body of work, Dinalie Dabarera’s singular art style and the depth of feeling achieved through character, texture, colour, and subject, stood out as exceptional. Storytelling and emotion are clear and have purpose. Her submitted project deals in a caring way with economic disparity yet, instead of focusing on what a child may not be able to have, it gently explores how, through creativity, a child and father can create and appreciate a wealth of their very own. It shows an artistic solution to exploring real-life challenges and disappointment with sensitivity and encouragement.
The Panel of Judges
Laurent Linn—Art Director, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Laurent Linn, Art Director at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, collaborates on picture books, middle grade, and teen novels with both celebrated and new illustrators such as Anita Lobel, Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Vashti Harrison, and Raúl Colón. He is also the author/illustrator of the critically acclaimed young adult novel, Draw the Line. Laurent is on the SCBWI Board of Advisors, as well as is the Artistic Advisor for the annual Original Art exhibit at the Society of Illustrators in New York. Laurent began his career as a puppet designer/builder in Jim Henson’s Muppet Workshop, creating characters for productions including the Muppet Christmas Carol and Muppet Treasure Island films, and eventually becoming the Creative Director for the Sesame Street Muppets, winning an Emmy Award. www.laurentlinn.com Instagram & FB: Laurent Linn
Lisa Berryman—Children’s Publisher, HarperCollins Publishers Australia
Lisa Berryman has been the children’s publisher at HarperCollins Publishers Australia for twenty-one years and publishes a wide range of titles from picture books to young adult titles. Lisa has also worked in children’s television at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation and taught Editing and Publishing at RMIT in Melbourne.
Her authors include award-winning author Jackie French, who with illustrator Bruce Whatley has created many internationally renowned, best-selling picture books. Jackie French also publishes many fiction and non-fiction titles. Other Australian authors and illustrators include Graeme Base, Rod Clement, David Cornish, Tara Eglington, Katrina Germein, Sue deGennaro, Susanne Gervay, Alison Goodman, Sheryl Gwyther, Tiffiny Hall, Eliza Henry-Jones, Kate Knapp, Sonia Kretschmar, Emily Rodda, Helene Magisson, James Moloney, Tania McCartney, Rebecca McRitchie, Matt Shanks, Anna Snoekstra, Jen Storer, Anne Spudvilas, Gabrielle Tozer and Mitch Vane
Lisa is also the publisher of the Working Title Press imprint. She is interested in all genres, and her authors, illustrators and list reflects the breadth of her taste.
Anna McFarlane—Children’s Publisher, Allen & Unwin
Anna McFarlane is a publisher of books for children and young adults at Allen & Unwin. During her career Anna has published many bestselling authors and illustrators and worked for a number of publishers. Recently at Allen & Unwin, Anna has published Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s bestselling Aurora Rising which won the 2019 Aurealis Award for Best YA and Best Sci-Fi, the 2019 CBCA shortlisted middle-grade novel The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty, I See I See by Robert Henderson which was Highly Commended in the 2020 ABDAs, and the 2020 CBCA shortlisted picture book My Friend Fred by Frances Watts, illustrated by A. Yi. Anna is also the publisher of the multi-award-winning picture book, Do Not Lick this Book by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost which has been published to great acclaim around the world.
Nancy Conescu—Publisher, Berbay Publishing
Nancy Conescu is Publisher of Berbay Publishing. Before relocating to Australia, she spent over a decade honing her editorial skills in New York, at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Penguin books for Young Readers, where she acquired and edited award-winning and New York Times bestselling titles and worked with both debut and celebrated authors. Prior to joining Berbay, she was Executive Commissioning Editor of Walker Books Australia. Nancy has always had a keen interest in illustration and loves discovering and developing new talent.
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Thank you to Liz Anelli for creating the gorgeous artwork for the Awards!
