The Awards on offer for WIA2021 are:

  • WIA2021 Overall Professional Winner, selected from the Category Winners will receive a coveted WIA Trophy.
  • They will win a generous cash prize of £2,000
  • They will also receive a two-page marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, valued at $4,330 US Dollars, including a 100-image professional portfolio on directoryofillustration.com

  • One of the ten New Talent Category Winners will be named as the WIA2021 Overall New Talent Winner.
  • They will win a generous cash prize £1,000, and a copy of the Directory of Illustration.

Each of the 20 Category Winners (one New Talent and one Professional per category) will receive:

  • A WIA Trophy
  • An enhanced entry in the catalogue.
  • An in depth profile feature on the AOI website as part of the Online Showcase.
  • A complimentary AOI membership with Folio for one year with all the benefits this brings including business advice, discounted online portfolio and Varoom subscription.

  • 20 Highly Commended Projects (one New Talent and one Professional per category) will receive a WIA Certificate.

The Cross-Category Awards on offer this year are:

  • Selected from any AOI Member shortlisted for WIA2021.
  • The winner will receive a complimentary year-long membership plus folio, a copy of the Guide to Law and the current Directories, worth £296.95, a WIA Certificate and profile feature on the AOI website.

  • The DI Award winner will receive a single page marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, valued at $2,695 US Dollars.
  • The program includes a 100-image professional portfolio on directoryofillustration.com plus a one-on-one consultation with a professional Directory of Illustration marketing consultant on how to best present your work to the American market.
  • The winner will also be presented with a WIA certificate and profile feature on the AOI website.


  • One shortlisted project will be selected for a cross-category Innovation Award, supported by It’s Nice That, to be awarded for a project displaying considerable innovation and experimentation with the artform.
  • The winner will be presented with a WIA certificate and profile feature on the AOI website.


  • All shortlisted unrepresented New Talent entries will be eligible for the SAA Agents Award for New Talent, offering the winner a six month trial representation with one of the leading SAA Illustration agents.
  • This award includes mentoring and career development.
  • The winner will also benefit from having their work showcased on the SAA’s website and across their social media platforms.
  • The winner will also be presented with a WIA certificate and profile feature on the AOI website.