Faber announced this year’s winners and highly commended of the FAB Prize, an award (now in its fifth year) for new writers and illustrators from under-represented backgrounds.

Shirley Hottier, who was awarded first place for the illustration prize, is a French Edinburgh-based freelance illustrator and urban designer. She has a passion for promoting diversity as a way to celebrate her multiple cultures, through the warm, lively scenes and characters she crafts.

Hottier submitted a selection of illustrations, which the judges said ‘have a great sense of fun and energy. She combines colours effortlessly and her bold style leaps from the page. Shirley’s work has a beautiful, retro feel, along with joyful themes and characters.’

Narjas Zatat won the text prize with her epic YA fantasy submission, Djinn-touched, described by the judges as ‘engaging, sumptuous and magical. Narjas is an incredibly talented storyteller with the potential to be a true writing star. The decision was unanimous.’

Second place for the text prize was awarded to Ben Williams for his middle-grade submission, Grace Weaver and the Other Kingdom. Samareh Azadi, awarded second place for the illustration prize, stood out for her ‘restrained colour palette, careful and considered use of detail, as well as her use of gorgeous printmaking techniques, which adds a lovely texture and tactile quality to her work’.

Text and illustration winners will be awarded £1500 each and various opportunities including a free place on a Faber Academy writing course, a one-year portfolio membership from the AOI, a place on a five-part publishing insights programme and the opportunity to shadow established authors and illustrators via BookTrust. The runners-up for both prizes are also awarded £500 each.

We want to extend our congratulations to Shirley as well as to Samareh, we can’t wait to see where you go next!

Read the full announcement of the FAB Prize’s winners and highly commended here.