An international showcase of illustration is coming to Gloucestershire this month as the University of Gloucestershire hosts the prestigious Cheltenham Illustration Awards.
Now in its 18th year, the awards attract more than 100 entries annually from artists around the world. The top 25 highly commended works for 2026 will go on display in a free public exhibition at the University’s Elwes Gallery, Park Campus, from 9 to 25 March.
‘Uncanny’ Theme Inspires Global Creativity
This year’s theme, Uncanny, has inspired an eclectic and often eerie mix of submissions, spanning cultures and artistic styles. From the surreal to the subtly strange, the selected pieces explore unsettling and curious subjects through a wide range of techniques.
The awards were judged by internationally recognised illustrators Petr Horáček, Anna Ryzhova – last year’s winner – and Louise Lockhart.
Among those selected are two University of Gloucestershire BA (Hons) Illustration graduates, Chelsea Shuker and Jodie Dean, highlighting the strength of local creative talent alongside global contributors.
Exhibition, Annual and Closing Celebration
The highly commended works will also feature in a printed postcard annual produced by the University’s Illustration team to accompany the exhibition.
To mark the close of the show, the University will host a free Cheltenham Illustration Awards Closing Party at the Elwes Gallery on Wednesday 25 March from 5pm to 7pm. Earlier in the day, visitors will also have the chance to purchase work created by staff, students and graduates.
The exhibition forms part of a wider annual showcase celebrating emerging illustrators and student work, offering visitors the opportunity to meet artists and explore new creative voices.
Nearly Two Decades of Celebrating Illustration
The Cheltenham Illustration Awards are administered by the University under the auspices of Pittville Press, the Illustration department’s publishing imprint dedicated to promoting and celebrating illustrators’ work.
Emma Evans, Illustration technician and awards co-organiser, said the standard remains exceptionally high.
“The Illustration department at the University has been running the Cheltenham Illustration Awards for nearly two decades and the standard of the work we receive from around the world remains as high as ever,” she said.
She added that this year’s Uncanny theme has produced a particularly diverse and thought-provoking collection, calling it “a real honour for the University to host this array of exciting artwork.”
After its Cheltenham run, the exhibition will tour to the Museum in the Park in Stroud during the summer, extending its reach across the county.
With free entry and global talent on display, the awards continue to cement Gloucestershire’s place on the international illustration map.
