Anglia Ruskin illustrator adding colour through diversity
Take a careful look, as the pictures you see on this page could well be the same images you see night after night as you put your little darlings to bed with a reading from their favourite book.
Such is the reputation of Anglia Ruskin University’s book illustration course that the graduates of today are more than likely to be capturing the imaginations of the children of tomorrow with their picture book creations.
With the latest batch of students from the MA course about to unleash their talents on the world, the people of Cambridge can get a free preview at the annual graduation show, which runs until Saturday (March 3), 10am-4.30pm. On display at the university’s Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge is the work of 83 graduates, many of whom already have publishers.
Visitors should keep an eye out for the work of Viola Wang, who last week was named as the winner of the Sebastian Walker Award for Illustration, presented to the most promising student graduating from the course.
Deirdre McDermott, Walker Picture Book publisher and creative director, said: “Viola’s fresh and original work captured our attention from the moment we opened her portfolio.
Her pictures combine a contemporary sense of style with bold colour with a strong understanding of artistic composition to create artwork that is truly striking.
Viola, who was born and raised in Beijing, added: “I see diversity as an increasingly important feature of children’s literature. I want the children who read my books to experience a wide range of information and views, so that they will grow up with their own opinions about – and solutions for – the world around them.”