The Northern Festival of Illustration is a biennial celebration of illustration and storytelling held across Hartlepool, taking in everything from picture books and comics to animation and digital narrative. Since launching in 2015, it has grown into one of the region’s biggest creative events, spreading across multiple venues including Hartlepool Art Gallery, Hartlepool Theatre and The Northern Studios.
At the heart of each edition is a themed exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery, bringing together dozens of illustration professionals from across the world. The 2025 festival, themed ‘Stories of Home’, displayed work from 75 illustrators over an eight-week run, alongside a Makers’ Market, an illustration symposium and industry networking events. Past and present exhibitors have included BAFTA-winning animator and illustrator Mikey Please, illustrator and curator Bee Illustrates, and Jonny Hannah, known for his screen prints and lino cuts.
The festival also hosts The Northern Illustration Prize, a biennial competition run in partnership with the Association of Illustrators, the UK’s professional body for illustration. Open to entrants worldwide across Emerging Illustrator, Established Illustrator and Animation categories, the Prize has drawn entries from students at leading animation schools as well as working professionals, with the 2025 edition attracting over 1,700 submissions.
The Northern School of Art supports the festival as a host venue and long-standing partner behind the Prize, giving staff, students and graduates a direct line into a genuinely international illustration community, from exhibiting artists to industry panels and networking events.