ARTIST INTERVIEW: CHARLOTTE DURANCE, BATSFORD PRIZE 2024 CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION WINNER
Here we get an inside look into the work of Charlotte Durance, Children’s Illustration Winner of The Batsford Prize 2024. Studying Children’s Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, Anglia Ruskin University, her work Fishy Friday responds to the 2024 theme of Gravity by depicting a big drama in a small community.
Hi Charlotte! CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT YOUR PIECE FISHY FRIDAY ? WHAT IS IT YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY WITH YOUR WORK AND DOES THE FINAL PIECE DIFFER FROM THE ORIGINAL IDEA?
Fishy Friday is an exploration of farce and comedy. I wanted to make a book that was quirky and fun. I have a BA in English and Film and Drama and this has a big influence on my work. In Fishy Friday I presented the villagers as a cast, inspired by movies and TV comedies. The reader meets different villagers throughout the story. The book started as a mystery that the reader must solve; however, I realised that it is funnier if the reader is given more information than the characters. They can see that penguins are causing havoc in the village. To maintain an element of surprise, I kept the number of penguins a secret from the reader until they discover them in the back of the van. Through the spectacle of the villagers and penguins running through the village, I wanted to capture the energy and movement that characterises farce. The resolution at the end is disrupted by the reveal of the missing polar bear that the reader can find in the book. I love the idea of being able to revisit a book and look again for clues. The farce continues through the second reading.
WHO ARE YOUR PARTICULAR ARTIST INSPIRATIONS AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU CREATIVELY?
I love playing with design and composition. I’m inspired by the way artists such as Henri Matisse, Saul Bass, Paul Rand and Dick Bruna used collage and shape in their work. The use of colour by Bernie Fuchs is a big influence particularly in my sketchbook work. I really love the picturebooks of John Burningham. His use of materials and the imagination in his stories is hugely inspiring. Overall, I’d say that play motivates me creatively. Playing with shape and materials is always the starting point for new ideas.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER YOU COMPLETE YOUR STUDIES?
I am looking forward to sharing my work and my goal is to make books. I feel so grateful that I am now starting a career in illustration.
WHAT LED YOU TO CREATE THIS PIECE IN THIS PARTICULAR MEDIUM?
The textures of Riso give the artwork a vintage feel which I love. I enjoy working in limited colour and only used blue and orange ink. I think it helps to create the sense of place in Fishy Friday. The constraint of using two colours and layering them to make new colours is a brilliant creative challenge.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO STUDY ILLUSTRATION AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT YOUR COURSE THAT YO THINK IS PARTICULARLY UNIQUE?
I’ve always loved books and had lots of ideas for stories. I wanted to learn more about visual storytelling and develop as an artist. Before the MA I was a Primary School Teacher and it was only in 2021 that I returned to drawing after many years. I was really inspired by the Cambridge School of Art summer school I attended and knew that I wanted to do the MA there. There is a big focus on observational drawing which underpins everything. It has been so important in my development and will always continue to be.
WHAT DOES WINNING THE BATSFORD PRIZE MEAN TO YOU?
It feels wonderful to have my work recognised. I am so grateful to Batsford Books. It is such a boost and encouragement to keep experimenting and developing as an artist.
IF YOU COULD HAVE CHOSEN THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S BATSFORD PRIZE, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND WHY?
That’s a tricky question! I really like how open to interpretation the theme of Gravity is. I feel it really relates to the element of farce in Fishy Friday. The characters’ highly exaggerated reactions due to the gravity of the situation they perceive is central to the humour in the book.
More of Charlotte Durance’s work can be found on her website.
ABOUT THE BATSFORD PRIZE
The Batsford Prize is an annual award open for undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of applied art and textiles, fine art, illustration, children’s illustration and NEW for 2025, Architecture. View the winners and runners up of this year’s award. The theme for the Batsford Prize 2025 is Fun & Play.
Interviews for the other Batsford Prize 2024 winners are available to read here:
