The 2013 Sebastian Walker Award for Most Promising Student

Congratulations to Jemima Sharpe, winner of The 2013 Sebastian Walker Award for Most Promising Student   On Thursday 7th February, the Second Annual Sebastian Walker Award for the Most Promising Student was awarded to Jemima Sharpe at a private view of the Graduation Exhibition, Foyles Bookshop Gallery, Charing Cross Road. The Sebastian Walker Award is presented to the most promising graduate; Jemima received a cheque for £500 presented by the late Sebastian Walker’s sister, Mirabel Cecil. Her MA project will now be considered on a first option basis by Walker Books.   Jemima was delighted with her win, and has said of the prize;   “I am over the moon to win the Sebastian Walker Award, it is such an honour to have been recognised by Walker Books. It is particularly special to have received the award from Mirabel Cecil, and was fantastic to meet her and hear her kind words of support. Walker Books are publishing some of the most inspiring books in the market at the moment, I’m particularly a fan of Jon Klassen and Birgitta Sif.   I’m also lucky to have had such an inspiring and talented class and teachers on the MA Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.”   Deirdre McDermott, Walker Books Picture Book Publisher, added;   “We are delighted to once again run the Sebastian Walker Award with the Cambridge MA, a well-known hotbed for illustration and picture book talent.   We have to commend the fantastic work and dedication of Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration and Pam Smy along with their band of tutors − Alexis Deacon, James Mayhew, Salvatore Rubbino, John Lawrence and David Hughes − for nurturing and developing such strong visionaries and maintaining an exceptional standard year-on-year.   Deciding the winner of the Sebastian walker Award winner was very difficult. Really, we could have awarded it four times over! In the end, we made a unanimous decision between us and Jemima Sharpe edged ahead of her very talented peers with her vibrant, witty and lively pictures. Her humorous details, the warmth and the distinctive palette of Jemima's work make her a very promising contender in the world of picture books.   This year, we were also delighted to have Mirabel Cecil, Sebastian’s sister, present to award Jemima with the £500 cheque and signed Jon Klassen books. She stressed how thrilled Sebastian would be to see that his company continues to support new burgeoning talent.”   Martin Salisbury, course leader at Cambridge School of Art adds;   “Congratulations to Jemima Sharpe on winning this award. We are thrilled for her, a thoroughly deserving winner who has worked incredibly hard throughout the course. Jemima is a talented and original picture book artist. Thanks again to everyone at Walker for sponsoring this marvellous award.”

About the Award   To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Sebastian Walker’s death in 2011, Walker Books established a brand new illustration award for students in his memory. The award is run in collaboration with the MA course in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art at Anglia Ruskin University.   The inaugural award was split between two winners, Heidi Deedman and Becky Palmer, who both won £500 prize, however many illustrators’ exemplary work caught the eye of Walker Books, and a number were signed up to join Walker’s illustrious list of illustrators.   Walker Books Picture Book Publisher Deirdre McDermott heads up the award alongside Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.   The MA Children’s Book Illustration Graduation Exhibition will run at The Gallery, Foyles, Charing Cross Road from 7th – 9th February.   Also showing at the Ruskin Gallery, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, 27th February – 14th March.   www.cambridgeMAshow.com