The biennial Northern Festival of Illustration is returning to celebrate all things illustration and storytelling, from storybooks and comics to animation and digital narratives.

Spanning an eight-week period from 13th September to 1st November 2025 the festival supported by The Northern School of Art is set to take over a number of Hartlepool venues with a diverse programme of art and creative events aimed at engaging visitors and the community alike.

Central to the festival will be an exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery on the theme of ‘Stories of Home’ which will showcase a display of over 70 works works from a range of illustration professionals from across the world in various mediums, alongside workshops and community activities.

Other events taking place as part of the festival include a Maker’s Market at Hartlepool Theatre on Saturday 20th September, an invitation-only animation screening sponsored by international animation studio Aardman Animation, and various professional events ideal for the professional arts and illustrators, including an industry panel and networking event for emerging and professional artists.

Matthew Burton, Co-Director of The Northern Festival of Illustration said: “We are very proud to be hosting the biggest event yet. The 2025 festival’s theme of ‘Stories of Home’ highlights the unique power of illustration to capture emotion, communicate identity, and preserve culture.

“The festival will span multiple venues across Hartlepool, bringing together communities, creatives, and audiences of all ages.”

The biennial festival, which started in 2015 and is now in its sixth edition, also hosts The Northern Illustration Prize, The Northern School of Art’s prestigious biennial illustration competition sponsored by the UK’s professional body for illustration, The Association of Illustrators (AOI).  This year’s theme of ‘Stories from Home’ complements the festival’s and entrants have explored the stories we hold closest to our hearts, ‘home’.

This year the Prize has attracted over 1700 entries, including submissions from all over the world and from leading animation Schools such as CalArts for the three categories – Emerging Illustrator, Established Illustrator Prize and Animation.

The shortlisted Northern Illustration Prize entries and screenings of the Animation entries will be on show in the Festival exhibition at Hartlepool Art Gallery. Winners will be announced during the launch event’s private viewing.

Highlights of the Northern Festival of Illustration 2025 include:

• The Northern Festival of Illustration Exhibition ‘Stories of Home’ – Hartlepool Art Gallery, 13th Sept – 1st Nov 2025, free entry

The exhibition at Hartlepool Gallery will showcase work from 75 illustrators alongside shortlisted entries to The Northern Illustration Prize 2025.

Highlights include Supermundane (aka the writer Rob Lowe) known for his vibrant and flamboyant style who approaches projects “with a sense of humour and a will to make everything I produce (no matter how small) have a bespoke and generous character”.

Also Jonny Hannah, known for his “fervent collection of paintings and drawings, screen prints and lino cuts, with a passion for 19th century type faces, and the written word in general” who “whilst working … will be attired in correspondence shoes, perhaps a bow tie or French workwear and listening to Charlie Parker, The Skids or Jacques Tati”.

Bee Illustrates

Jonny Hannah

Mikey Please

Supermundane/Rob Lowe

Award-winning illustrator, curator, and interdisciplinary creative Bee Illustrates who combines their artistic practice with digital mediums to act as a means of storytelling is also lined up. Bee’s work often centres on “personal narratives from their own experiences of navigating mental health issues and exploring their queer identity, and aims to educate, empower, and inform on a range of important topics”.

Mikey Please, BAFTA-winning writer, animation director and illustrator is also on show. Mike co-wrote and co-directed Aardman’s Oscar-nominated film Robin Robin and his debut picture book, The Cafe at the Edge of the Woods, was described as “delightfully grotesque” by the Guardian and “sublime” by the Times.

A number of workshops and events will take place during the exhibition for local schools and families. This include during half term holidays as well as providing local schools with access to tailored workshops supporting literacy skills, creative skills, digital drawing and image-making skills. Free resources and children’s books will be provided.

• Artists’ Makers Market – Hartlepool Theatre, Saturday 20th September, free entry

This unique art-focused family-friendly event will host illustrators, artists and designers in a one-day event offering activities for all age groups and providing local and national talent a space to showcase their work, support small businesses and celebrate creativity.

• Illustration Symposium, Panel & Network – Friday 17th October 2025, ticketed event

A symposium and panel event featuring academics and professionals in the illustration and publishing industries, followed by professional networking opportunities.

The Northern Festival of Illustration 2025, September 13th – 1st November 2025

Venues: Hartlepool Art Gallery, The Northern School of Art, Hartlepool Theatre & The Northern Studios

The Northern Festival of Illustration is at www.thefestivalofillustration.com and on Instagram @festivalofillustration