Awards
Printfest Awards:
Printmaker of the Year
Printmakers’ Printmaker
Graduate Printmaker
YOUNG Printmaker of the Year, Primary
YOUNG Printmaker of the Year, Secondary
Sponsored Awards:
Awarded to artists based on the body of work on their stand:
‘Visitors’ Choice Award’
Sponsored by James Cropper PLC
Zillah Bell Gallery Award
Founders’ Award
Kunstprenteverket Awards x 2
Individual Print Awards:
Awagami Paper Award
Chris Benefield Memorial Award
Cranfield Awards x 2
Essdee Award
Haigh Award
Handprinted Award
Hawthorn Printmaker Award
Ironbridge Printmakers Award
Pressing Matters
Printmakers of Scotland
Plus:
The Visitors’ Prize Draw
Six printmaking kits from Essdee Art & Craft–you can choose between adult or child kits
Find out about their printmaking kits here: www.essdee.co.uk
Winners will be notified by email after the event
Find out more about our Award Sponsors here
The Printfest Award certificates
For 2025 the award certificates are being designed, drawn and hand printed by Printfest Lakes‘ Clare Dent. Clare is a member of the Printfest Team.
For 2024 the award certificates were designed, drawn and hand printed by Patron Alan Stones, to celebrate 21 years of Printfest. Title ‘The Print Collector’, two colour plate lithograph, edition 50. Find out what Alan is up to on Instagram!
In 2023 the award certificates were designed and printed by Printfest Team member and Art Teacher/Printmaker Esther Benson. Follow her on instagram!
In 2022 the award certificates were designed and printed by Printfest Founder Judy Evans. Judy lives on Raasay in Scotland and we love that the clouds are arranged by the seagulls both on Raasay and above Ulverston!
In 2020 the award certificates were created during lockdown, and designed and etched by Jamie Barnes.
In 2019 the award certificates were designed and letterpress printed by Keith Bamber at The Print Project at Shipley.
In 2018 the award certificates were designed and silkscreen printed by Katie Edwards.
In 2017 the award certificates were designed and hand written by Kelly Stewart. This was the first one so there was a bit of discovery to do on this. Kelly was brilliant!
Printfest was shortlisted for
Tourism Event of the Year 2018
Tourism Event of the Year Finalist 2018
Printfest was thrilled to be shortlisted by Cumbria Tourism. The four finalists had to demonstrate excellence and innovation, service, welcome, marketing and sustainable practices, all of which adds to Printfest’s appeal to visitors.
Printfest Awards:
Printmaker of the Year Award
In 2008 Printfest launched the first Printmaker of the Year Award. Each year we work in partnership with a print studio or gallery to select a Printmaker of the Year. Since 2010, the Printmaker of the Year has created a commissioned print during a residency in South Cumbria and exhibited their work at Printfest. A selected piece from the Artist’s work is used on all Printfest’s marketing material; from the early promotional flyer distributed across the North of England, on all our posters, advertisements, invitations, tickets and on the cover of the exhibition catalogue.
Printmaker of the Year 2026:
Anne Desmet www.annedesmet.com
You can see past Printmakers of the Year here
Printmakers’ Printmaker Award
In 2007 Printfest launched the Printmakers’ Printmaker Award. Over the Printfest weekend each year, we ask the exhibiting artists to nominate their favourite exhibitor. That artist becomes our Printmakers’ Printmaker, an accolade which is particularly meaningful to artists as it reflects recognition by their peers.
Printmakers’ Printmaker 2025:
Aga Kubish agakubish.com
You can see past Printmakers’ Printmakers here
Graduate Printmaker Award
This NEW bi-annual Printfest Award started in 2025, details for 2027 coming soon. This award is open to graduates who have completed an arts degree focusing on printmaking and are working on developing a body of work. The award includes a free stand and free accommodation in Ulverston.
Printfest’s aim for this opportunity is to support them in developing their printmaking practice. Printfest is offering them the opportunity to exhibit alongside some of the best printmakers in the UK, and beyond. This includes free accommodation just a few minutes’ walk from the Printfest venue The Coro. Plus, a mentoring programme to support them in preparing for the exhibition, looking at their body of work, considering mounting and framing, pricing, and selling opportunities. The mentors are past Printmakers of the Year.
The Mentors 2025
Kelly Stewart PMY 2012 and Jason Hicklin PMY 2017 ~ “This is a huge opportunity, to have access to advice and support from 2 professional printmakers. I will be working with the winner early on in the program to assist them with image making and image creation while Jason will be on hand to assist with the technical side of etching, including techniques and editioning.” Kelly Stewart
YOUNG Printmaker the Year Award, one for Primary, one for Secondary
In 2023 Printfest launched the YOUNG Printmaker of the Year Awards. All participating schools and students respond to a Printfest brief. The winners of these two awards are selected by the Printmakers’ Printmaker once the work has been hung at The Coro. The winners were presented with their certificates at assembly at their respective schools.
YOUNG Printmakers of the Year 2025:
Memed, age 9 from St George’s Primary School
Asya, age 15, from Ulverston Victoria High School
Read more here
Sponsored Awards:
Awarded to artists based on the body of work on their stand:
Visitors’ Choice Award
Sponsored by James Cropper PLC
2025 winner: Anja Percival anjapercival.co.uk
2024 winner: Joshua Miles joshuamiles.art
2023 winner: Anja Percival anjapercival.co.uk
2022 winner: Jenny McCabe www.jennymccabe.co.uk
2019 winner: Anja Percival www.anjapercival.co.uk
2018 winner: Gail Mason www.gailmason.co.uk
2017 winner: Mark Pearce www.markpearce.co.uk
2025 winner: Sarah de Feu
2024 winner: Ruth Ander ruthander.co.uk
2023 winner: Tessa Pearson www.tessapearson.com
2022 winner: Ian Phillips www.reliefprint.com
2020 winner: Sally Adkins www.sallyadkins.com
2019 winner: Amy Hutson www.grainstudio.co.uk
2018 winner: Morna Rhys www.mornarhys.co.uk
2025 winner: Polly Marix Evans pollymarixevansprintmaker.co.uk
2024 winner: Andi Dakin andidakin.com
2023 winner: Graham Firth grahamfirthfineprints.com
2022 winner: Nell Smith www.nellsmith.co.uk
2020 winner: Rahil Sheikh www.instagram.com/rahilsheikhart
2019 winner: Simon Tozer www.simontozer.co.uk
2018 winner: Adele Burdon adele-burdon.co.uk
2017 winner: Katie Edwards www.ktedwards.co.uk
2025 winners: louisa Boyd and Blaze Cyan
2024 winners: Jemma Gunning and Emily Ketteringham
2023 winners: Joshua Miles and Anja Percival
2022 winners: Jo McChesney www.jomcchesney.co.uk and Anthony Ratcliffe www.anthonyratcliffe.co.uk
2020 winners: Jenny McCabe www.jennymccabe.co.uk & Janis Goodman www.janisgoodman.co.uk
Individual Print Awards
2025 winner: Kelly Stewart
2024 winner: Jo McChesney jomcchesney.co.uk
2023 winner: Nell Smith nellsmith.co.uk
2022 winner: Rahil Sheikh www.instagram.com/rahilsheikhart
2019 winner: Jane Mowat www.janemowat.co.uk
2018 winner: Laura Boswell www.lauraboswell.co.uk
2017 winner: Chris Salmon www.chrissalmonart.co.uk
Chris Benefield Memorial Award
2025 winner: Hester Cox
2024 winner: Laura Boswell www.lauraboswell.co.uk
2023 winner: Ian Cox iancoxarts.co.uk
2022 winner: Alan Stones www.alanstones.co.uk
2020 winner: Lou Davis www.instagram.com/LouDavisArt
2019 winner: Kelly Stewart www.skellydesigns.com
2018 winner: Gail Mason www.gailmason.co.uk
2017 winner: Clare Cutts www.clare-cutts.co.uk
2025 winners: Maya McMahon-Boon and Alison Diamond
2024 winners: Deb Wing and Hazel McNab
2023 winners: Laura Boswell and Frans Wesselman
2022 winners: Mark Pearce www.markpearce.co.uk and Alexandra Buckle www.alexandrabuckle.co.uk
2019 winners: Debby Akam www.debbyakam.com and Babs Pease www.babspeasedesign.weebly.com
2018 winners: Simon Ripley www.simonripley.co.uk & Rahil Sheikh www.instagram.com/rahilsheikhart
2025 winner: Laura MacClennan
2024 winner: Aga Kubish agakubish.com
2023 winner: Lisa Takahashi lisatakahashi.com
2022 winner: Helen Murgatroyd www.helenmurgatroyd.co.uk
2020 winner: Babs Pease www.babspeasedesign.weebly.com
2025 winner: Anja Percival
2024 winner: Fouzia Zafar fouziazafar.com
2023 winner: Pete Marsh petemarshart.co.uk
2022 winner: Alison Diamond www.alisonturnbulldiam.artist
2020 winner: Helen Murgatroyd www.helenmurgatroyd.co.uk
2019 winner: Ian Phillips www.reliefprint.co.uk
2018 winner: Henrietta Corbett www.henriettacorbett.co.uk
2017 winner: Anja Percival www.anjapercival.co.uk
2025 winner: Mark Wheatley
2024 winners: Rachel Thornton www.rachelthornton.co.uk
2023 winner: Ian Burke ianburkepainterprintmaker.com
2022 winner: Cath Brooke www.cathbrooke.co.uk
2020 winner: Nell Smith www.nellsmith.co.uk
2019 winner: Helen Murgatroyd www.helenmurgatroyd.co.uk
2025 winner: Rachel Gracey
2024 winner: Gregory Moore gregorymooreprintmaker.co.uk
2023 winner: Holly Magdalene Scott hollymagdalenescottprintmaker.bigcartel.com
2022 winner: Moira McTague www.moiramctague.com
2020 winner: Ian Phillips www.reliefprint.co.uk
2019 winner: Anja Percival www.anjapercival.co.uk
2018 winner: Geri Waddington www.geriwaddington.com
2017 winner: John Hatton www.mallgalleries.org.uk/artist/john-hatton-aswla
2025 winner: Johann Booyens
2024 winners: Ian Cox and Joshua Miles
2023 winner: Deb Wing debwing.com
2022 winner: Jenny McCabe www.jennymccabe.co.uk
2025 winner: Angela Hall
2024 winner: Jane Walker www.janewalkerprintmaker.com
Previous years awards: