For the last five years SCBWI Australia East has held the Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards. The Awards are managed by SCBWI Australia East and funded by the Copyright Agency. Judged by some of the publishing world’s best, they gather to pore over submissions from incredibly talented SCBWI illustrators to choose the winning entries.
This year we had the absolute joy and privilege to hear from the 2024 winners! We heard about their process, what they’ve been up to since winning the award and they gave tips and advice to anyone keen to enter this year’s awards. (The deadline for the 2025 awards is July 1, 2025)
Many also said how last year’s similar event inspired them to enter. It gave them the courage and the skills to think it was possible. Many spoke about no matter how many awards or publications they had, they still have doubts about their abilities but that coming together as a community and being given opportunities like these awards, gave them the courage to keep going.
Artwork by Nisaluk Chantanakom
A big theme of the day was creating between the cracks. How we’re all so busy but we need to make time for our creativity and our projects and to never give up. To be willing to follow the idea where it will lead us and not be afraid to let ideas go or file some away in an effort to create the most affecting project we can.
All the winners very generously told us about how they work, the highs and lows and how creating is never a straight line. How a small idea, might lead you somewhere you never thought. They shared how the prize money helped them to create their project and, in very exciting news, told us that lots of the projects entered were signed or had led to other contracts! Which is super exciting for all of us here at SCBWIAustEast.
We would like to thank the Copyright Agency for their grant, which enabled us to to continue this award that has changed the lives and developed the careers of so many.
Congratulations to all the incredible winners!
ESTABLISHED ILLUSTRATOR
1st Prize: Heidi McKinnon
2nd Prize: Mick Elliot
3rd prize: Max Hamilton
Highly Commended: Mandy Foot
Highly Commended: Sofya Karmazina
EMERGING ILLUSTRATOR
Winner: Nisaluk Chantanakom
Highly Commended: Kristen Willis
Highly Commended: Rosalie Street
By Deborah Abela, author and Co-RA SCBWIAustEast