IMAGINATIVE school pupils from Rugby have seen their book covers go on public display.
Their works, which are being shown by Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, were created for a book cover art competition launched by the venue following the successful Quentin Blake: Book Covers exhibition earlier this year, which featured 60 of Blake’s iconic cover illustrations.
Pupils were challenged to create a cover for a favourite or imaginary book, together with the back cover ‘copy’ which summarises the story inside.
The competition attracted nearly 350 entries, with the judging panel crowning an overall winner and the winners of five age categories.
The now former Mayor of Rugby, Coun Maggie O’Rourke, presented the prizes to the winners during a special preview of the competition exhibition, which features all entries shortlisted for one of the age category awards.
The preview was attended by more than 300 pupils, parents and teachers.
Martha, a pupil at Hillmorton Primary School, was crowned overall winner for their Indigo Moor illustration, which was entered in the nine-to-ten-years-old age category.
Martha was presented with a copy of John Yeoman’s The Boy Who Sprouted Antlers, signed by Quentin Blake, who illustrated the book’s cover.
The winners of the other age category prizes were Jeremy (five-to-six-years-old) from Long Lawford Primary School, Darcey (seven-to-eight-years-old) from Southam Primary School, Aaron (11-to-12-years-old) from Long Lawford Primary School, and Dexter (13-to-14-years-old) from Bilton School.
The Rugby Library ‘Marvellous Makers’ prizes went to Ella from Willenhall Community Primary School, and Connie from Abbey CE Academy.
Noah, from Southam Primary School, won the ‘best blurb’ prize for his book cover copy, while Oliver, from Southam St James Primary School, received the Mayor’s prize.
Prizes were sponsored by the Quentin Blake Centre of Illustration, the Asda Foundation and Rugby Library.
Phoebe Hilton, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s senior learning and engagement officer, said: “Blake described capturing the essence of a story in a single illustration without revealing too much of the plot as one of the biggest challenges he faced as an artist, so the competition presented school pupils with a tough task.
“We were staggered by both the number and quality of entries we received, and the imagination and creativity displayed by these talented young illustrators. Congratulations to all the winners and everyone who took part.”
The book cover art competition exhibition runs at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s main gallery until Saturday (June 8).
Visit www.ragm.co.uk for more information about exhibitions and events at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
