A prestigious exhibition featuring an extraordinary range of illustration from artists in the UK and abroad is currently running at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in Swansea.
The university's Dynevor Centre for Art, Design and Media is one of just four venues to host the flagship Illustration Awards Exhibition Tour, which attracted 12,000 visitors when it was launched at Somerset House in London last month.
The work on show comes from a range of sources to reflect the diverse disciplines within the industry and was entered for the only independent, jury-selected illustration competition in the UK, the AOI Illustration Awards.
Lost Mariner by Nate Kitch
One of the jury members was UWTSD Swansea general illustration programme director Derek Bainton.
He told me that hosting the awards provides an opportunity for both academic and public audiences to view exceptional work by illustrators internationally because it offers a broad selection of award-winning illustration from the worlds of advertising, books, children's books, design and editorial comment, to name a few.
"The work included is important because it celebrates and promotes illustration as an essential contributor to global visual culture," he said.
"It will encourage emerging talent to question and push boundaries regarding what illustration can be. Traditionally its definition has been bound to flat drawing and the book, but contemporary illustration, put simply, can be a universal visual and audio language inherent in many guises, from 3D assemblages, photographic collage and sculpture to animation and narrative film.
Eugene Onegin by Anna and Elena Balbusso
"But given its broad approach, its far reaching messages and wide contemporary approaches, the awards show will have something that will appeal to everyone."
Among the work on show is Nate Kitch's Lost Mariner, which Derek believes makes very clever and subtle use of metaphor, imagery and colour.
"There is a slight sliding out of focus that hints at the disconnection between the conscious and unconscious mind which is central to the subject matter. The colour palette is great."
By contrast, he feels Eugene Onegin by Anna and Elene Balbusso holds a timelessly classic yet modern feel, with rich detail and an arresting style.
Our Nation's Son by Joe Caslin
He added: "Joe Caslin's Our Nation's Son speaks for itself. It is from the category of Public Realm and was a hands-down winner for the judges.
"It is such a strong project in terms of its aims and outcomes. The project combines street art and illustration very effectively and has a strong message. It is a beautiful thing.
"Illustration is an incredibly important visual art form. It often gets marginalised within the higher echelons of the art world.
"Illustration is meant for everyone, and is a discipline that is exploding across the arts. It is important we embrace it."
Lâ Abbraccio by Glulia Chiginia
This year for the first time in the competition’s 37-year history, the shortlist included illustrators from outside of the UK to recognise the exceptional work produced internationally and promote the discipline's vital contribution to global visual culture.
The exhibition is free and runs until Friday 13 December at the university's Dynevor Centre for Art, Design and Media.
Category and shortlisted work can be viewed at: www.aoiawards.com
