Calling all aspiring illustrators!

Why we’re running this prize:

To celebrate the relaunch of our Darley Anderson Illustration Instagram, we’re excited to launch our first-ever illustrator mentorship competition — a call-out to children’s and YA illustrators everywhere.

Important dates:

• Competition opens: 29 January 2026
• Competition closes: 16 March 2026
• Winner announced: 1 April 2026
  

Who can enter:

• This competition is open to illustrators who have never been traditionally published
• Illustrators across the whole board – we’re looking for illustrators who (but not limited to) work on any and all children’s and YA age ranges i.e you could specialise in board books, YA graphic novels or anything in between. We want to see what you can do!
  

For 2026, we are only welcoming submissions from illustrators who identify as underrepresented or from minority backgrounds in the publishing industry, including (but not limited to):

• POC / BAME
• Neurodivergent creatives
• LGBTQ+ illustrators
• Illustrators from lower socio-economic backgrounds
• Disabled illustrators
  

Only the winner receives:

The winner will receive one-to-one mentoring sessions with Lorna Hemingway, Literary and Illustrator Agent at Darley Anderson, featuring four follow-up sessions across the year with portfolio reviews, personalised feedback and career development advice tailored to your goal.

This mentorship is designed to support you over time, helping you build confidence, clarity, and a stronger professional portfolio.

How to enter:

Please email the following to DAkids@darleyanderson.com with the subject line:
Submission for Darley Anderson Illustration Mentorship Prize 2026

Your submission should include:

• A PDF portfolio containing 10–15 illustrations
• A cover letter (maximum half an A4 page) including: 
• 1. A short introduction to who you are, 
• 2. Why you want to enter this prize
• 3. How this mentorship could support your development as an illustrator