IWS: UK Illustration Championships

IIIIts back! Some of the best classic and digital artists gathered together at the end of 2021 to take on the battle of the UK Illustration Championships. This annual event had artists in a head-to-head competition with quick-fire 60 minute time slots, in which they were to create an illustration that takes inspiration from any given recent news headline. The 2021 event was hosted at an eSports arena in the United Kingdom and brought classically and digitally trained artists to compete for the UK title in a live streamed tournament.

The judging panel for 2021 included none other than our ScrawlrBox founder Chris Lambert, alongside Captain Kris, Mark Farrington, Roxy Brut, Gary Rozanski and Jade Aura. And they certainly had their work cut out for them for this event, with such a great line up of talented artists to choose from.

The classic UK illustration championships were first held in 2017 bringing a beginning to an event filled with talented artists and the 2021 occasion did not disappoint. The classics line up saw 16 artists in a knock out style tournament. There was so much talent to choose from but ultimately the classic artist final saw @kingtrou and @hatch_art fighting with pencils and pens in the concluding round, taking the news headline ‘Apartheid Fighter Desmond Tutu Has Died Aged 90’ as inspiration for their pieces. Both artists displayed fantastic artistry but after a tense battle @kingtrou came away with the classic title.

2021 was the first year to hold a category for the UK digital artists, bringing 16 of the best digital artists to compete head-to-head in a creative, technological battle. The final for the digital artists saw @createdbyimrie and @elliotfernandez_art in a digital art-off, their creations based on the headline ‘UK Tabloid Prints Front Page Apology to Meghan Markle For Publishing Private Letter’. Both parties put up a great fight but @createdbyimire took the winning title this time with a brilliant display of digital creativity. 

Of course, there were so many talented and wonderful artists that did not make it to the final, however the rising star award was created for this very reason, featuring an artist that did not make it to the final but still blew everyone away with their artistic talent and capability to engage thoroughly with the event. As well as being a judge at this event, our ScrawlrBox founder, Chris Lambert, also chose the 2021 rising star award, which was awarded to the brilliant Colin Hood (@thecolinhoodshow) who demonstrated his creative skill and professionalism throughout the event. He is definitely one to keep an eye on for future events and we can’t wait to see what he does next.