Awards
Printfest Awards:
Printmaker of the Year
Printmakers’ 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 x 2
Pressing Matters
TPFramework Award
Previous years awards:
Intaglio Printmakers
McClures Award
Plus:
The Visitors’ Prize Draw
There will be all new prizes for 2024!
Find out more about our Award Sponsors here
The Printfest Award certificates
For 2024 the award certificates are being designed, drawn and hand printed by our Patron Alan Stones, we are looking forward to presenting them to the worthy winners this year! 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 2023:
Hilary Paynter hilarypaynter.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 2023:
Sally Adkins sallyadkins.com
You can see past Printmakers’ Printmakers here
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 2023:
Shannon from Ulverston Victoria High School
Peter from Broughton-in-Furness 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
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
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
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 www.printfest.uk/adele-burdon
2017 winner: Katie Edwards www.ktedwards.co.uk
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
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
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
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
2023 winner: Lisa Takahashi lisatakahashi.com
2022 winner: Helen Murgatroyd www.helenmurgatroyd.co.uk
2020 winner: Babs Pease www.babspeasedesign.weebly.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
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
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
2023 winner: Deb Wing debwing.com
2022 winner: Jenny McCabe www.jennymccabe.co.uk
NEW for 2024!
The winner will be announced Friday 3rd May at the Preview
2023 winner: Emerson Mayes emersonmayes.co.uk
2022 winner: James Green www.jamesgreenprintworks.blogspot.com
2020 winner: Laura Boswell www.lauraboswell.co.uk
2019 winner: Moira McTague www.moiramctague.com
Previous years awards: