Picture Hooks provides opportunity and development for emerging picture book illustrators

We help illustrators access the world of children’s publishing.

Although based in Edinburgh, Picture Hooks support is available for all emerging illustrators.

Find out more about our programme >>

New Picture Hooks Competition – With a Twist!

We are delighted to announce our latest competition, and the first of our ‘Before and After’ competitions, on the theme Quiet/Loud. There will be one Quiet/Loud competition taking place during April – May 2023. The winner will receive a prize of £500, and two additional awarded runners up will both receive £250. More details about […]

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New Picture Hooks Competition – With a Twist!

We are delighted to announce our latest competition, and the first of our ‘Before and After’ competitions, on the theme Quiet/Loud. There will be one Quiet/Loud competition taking place during April – May 2023. The winner will receive a prize of £500, and two additional awarded runners up will both receive £250. More details about […]

April 19, 2023
Illustration from Penguin's Party Problems by Alice Horn

Picture Hooks Competitions in 2023: Before and After

We are very excited to announce a new format for our illustration competitions in 2023! In 2020, Picture Hooks launched its first illustration competition to inspire and promote aspiring children’s book illustrators during lockdown. Since that time we have run 17 illustration competitions on themes like Seed to Table, Summer Surprises, Peace and Friendship, awarding […]

April 5, 2023
Illustration by Selina Young

New Picture Hooks Competition!

We are delighted to announce our latest competition on the theme of Kindness. It is taking place during October, November and December and there will be two competitions. The winner of each competition will receive a prize of £1,000. More details about the competition, including how to enter.

October 17, 2022
Illustration of a bear

Mentoring Programme now open

Calling all emerging children’s book illustrators! Our mentoring programme is now open. Don’t miss the chance to give your craft a final polish and launch your career as a fully-fledged children’s book illustrator. Paired with an established illustrator over nine months, selected mentees will develop specific pieces of work, attend masterclasses and meet publishers, finishing […]

September 12, 2022
Illustration by Anders Frang

New Picture Hooks Competition!

We are delighted to announce our latest competition on the theme of Friendship. It is taking place during May and June and there will be two competitions. The winner of each competitions will receive a prize of £1,000. More details about the competition, including how to enter.

May 4, 2022

Buddy Scheme

Are you a passionate artist from a non-traditional illustration background? Perhaps you love drawing vibrant characters or telling a story through pictures but haven’t thought about doing a MA, or have honed your skills in a different industry altogether. Our buddy scheme pairs creative artists with established children’s picture book illustrators for six months to develop […]

April 19, 2022