Ukrainian illustrators recognized as winners at the World Illustration Awards

Ukrainian illustrators Yuliya Gwilym and Jenya Polosina have won prestigious awards at the World Illustration Awards 2025.

Over 4,700 illustrations were submitted to the competition, and the jury selected 200 for the shortlist.

Ukrainian illustrators received awards in the Professional Highly Recommended category:

• Jenya Polosina’s illustration for the cover of a collection of short stories by H. G. Wells (named after one of the stories), “The Country of the Blind” (published by One More Page) in the “Book Covers” category;

• Illustrations by Yuliya Gwilym for the children’s book “Quack!” (published by The Old Lion Publishing) in the “Children’s Book Illustration” category.

“This year’s entries highlight the power of illustration to help us explore and understand the world around us. Artists tackled themes like human connection, the celebration of diversity and inclusion, and the growing impact of AI on our daily lives. Illustration is everywhere, in books, journalism, packaging, murals; it shapes how we see and understand each other. I’m proud to recognise the outstanding talent on display this year, and to celebrate artists who help us see things in new ways. Congratulations to all this year’s winners, and to everyone who submitted their work. The creativity and skill within the global illustration community make this award programme truly exceptional,” Rachel Hill, AOI CEO, said.

Founded by the British Association of Illustrators in collaboration with the Directory of Illustration, the World Illustration Awards is considered one of the most prestigious international honors in the illustration industry. Since 1976, the awards have celebrated top illustrative works from around the world, welcoming entries from both renowned artists and emerging illustrators. This year marked its tenth edition.

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Images: British Illustrators Association website

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn