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Craft and Design

Many entries to the craft and design categories of the Koestler Awards have been produced as gifts for friends or family, or as part of coursework for qualifications.

Others, such as Matchstick Models, are produced as a specialist hobby, using specially purchased matchsticks bought from the prison ‘canteen’.

There are restrictions on tools and materials in secure settings, which limit and challenge the makers to think outside the box.

Koestler Awards craft and design artforms include handmade book, calligraphy, handmade greetings card, graphic design, matchstick model, woodcraft, furniture, needlecraft, fashion, hair styling and beauty.

Mask of a face painted navy blue with cloud covering eyes and part of the forehead opened up, revealing a cog.

Identity Mask

HM Young Offender Institution Aylesbury
Michael Murphy Under 25s Special Award for Craft
2023

Old style rabbit soft toy dressed as traditional gentleman with glasses, umbrella and bow tie.

Rabbit

HM Prison Gartree
Bowman Smart Bronze Award for Needlecraft
2023

Matchstick chess set with figures in natural tone and red-brown.

Chess Board and Pieces

HM Prison Edinburgh
Outstanding Debut Award for Matchstick Model
2023

Greetings card with white background and print of two cats in orange-gold paint.

Gold Cat Card

HM Prison Channings Wood
Bronze Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2023

Woodcraft model of traditional ship with large grey sails and a black flag at the top.

Caravela

Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre
Unilink Platinum Award for Woodcraft
2023

Suit with bow tie, kilt and sporran made from recycled British crisp packets.

Suit

HM Prison Thameside
Arts Society Greater London Area Platinum Award for Fashion
2023

Front cover of a yellow handmade book with red binding on left side. The front has 'DAYGO' text, white and brown mouse, and giant angular orange cheese.

DayGo Mouse

HM Prison Isle of Wight (Parkhurst)
Platinum Award for Handmade Book
2023

Calligraphy in latin, written in black and red ink.

Seize the Day

HM Prison Whatton
Platinum Award for Calligraphy
2023

A thumbnail preview of A Taste of Things to Come, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

A Taste of Things to Come

Commended Award for Handmade Book
2022

A thumbnail preview of The Q, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

The Q

HM Prison Greenock
Platinum Award for Graphic Design
2022

A thumbnail preview of Tree of Qualities, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Tree of Qualities

HM Prison Woodhill
Commended Award for Calligraphy
2022

A thumbnail preview of Teddy’s Bear Chair, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Teddy’s Bear Chair

HM Prison Warren Hill
Silver Award for Furniture
2022

A thumbnail preview of Summer Lovin, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Summer Lovin

HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2022

A thumbnail preview of Stick Head, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Stick Head

HM Prison Littlehey
Outstanding Debut Award for Woodcraft
2022

A thumbnail preview of Sea Tortoise Card, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Sea Tortoise Card

HM Prison Northumberland
Highly Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2022

A thumbnail preview of Matchstick Tower of Affirmations, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Matchstick Tower of Affirmations

HM Prison Littlehey
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2022

A thumbnail preview of Fold Over Purses, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Fold Over Purses

St Andrew’s Healthcare Birmingham
Bronze Award for Fashion
2022

A thumbnail preview of Stay Safe, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Stay Safe

HM Prison Bronzefield
Silver Award for Fashion
2021

A thumbnail preview of Shooting for the Stars!, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Shooting for the Stars!

HM Prison Kilmarnock
Gold Award for Hairstyling
2021

A thumbnail preview of Rainbows, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Rainbows

HM Prison Bure
Gold Award for Calligraphy
2021

A thumbnail preview of Man’s Best Friend, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Man’s Best Friend

HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Handmade Book
2021

A thumbnail preview of Incarcerated Heart, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Incarcerated Heart

Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – Bournemouth
Commended Award for Matchstick Model
2021

A thumbnail preview of Hairstyles, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Hairstyles

The Ayr Clinic
Bronze Award for Hairstyling
2021

A thumbnail preview of Glitzy Girl, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Glitzy Girl

HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Platinum Award for Needlecraft
2021

A thumbnail preview of Genevieve’s Crow, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Genevieve’s Crow

HM Prison Pentonville
Bronze Award for Graphic Design
2021

A thumbnail preview of Design Development, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Design Development

Aycliffe Secure Centre
Charlton Bronze Award for Furniture
2021

A thumbnail preview of Carnival Make-Up, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Carnival Make-Up

HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Beauty
2021

A thumbnail preview of All That Glitters, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

All That Glitters

HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Craft
2021

A thumbnail preview of A Drop in the Ocean: The Harbour Collection, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

A Drop in the Ocean: The Harbour Collection

HM Young Offender Institution Polmont
Arts Society Greater London Area Bronze Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2021

A thumbnail preview of A Column of Words, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

A Column of Words

Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – Bournemouth
Commended Award for Woodcraft
2021

A thumbnail preview of To Trumbo, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

To Trumbo

NPS West Sussex
Platinum Award for Calligraphy
2020

A thumbnail preview of Window Box, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Window Box

HM Prison Erlestoke
Platinum Award for Textile Art
2020

A thumbnail preview of White Quilt Vase, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

White Quilt Vase

HM Prison Peterborough
Paper Craft Bronze Award for Craft
2020

A thumbnail preview of Traditional Vietnamese House, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Traditional Vietnamese House

Colnbrook IRC
Hope Bronze Award for Craft
2020

A thumbnail preview of The Round Stuff, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

The Round Stuff

HM Prison Glenochil
Platinum Award for Handmade Book
2020

A thumbnail preview of The Horizon From My Cell Window, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

The Horizon From My Cell Window

HM Prison Holme House
Victor Cook Highly Commended Award for Digital Art
2020

A thumbnail preview of Patience, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Patience

HM Prison Dovegate
Gold Award for Matchstick Model
2020

A thumbnail preview of My J Cloth Cardigan, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

My J Cloth Cardigan

HM Prison Eastwood Park
Kath & Harry Bryan First-Time Entrant Award for Fashion
2020

A thumbnail preview of Jungle Oasis, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Jungle Oasis

HM Prison Bronzefield
Jack Thornton Silver Award for Needlecraft
2020

A thumbnail preview of Horse With No Name, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Horse With No Name

HM Prison Frankland
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2020

A thumbnail preview of Goldrush Train, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Goldrush Train

HM Prison Glenochil
Lady Bishopston Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2020

A thumbnail preview of Caged Love Hurts Bad, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Caged Love Hurts Bad

Harmondsworth IRC
Department of Law and Criminology, Royal Holloway University of London Platinum Award for Craft
2020

A thumbnail preview of Bird Cage – Imprisoned!, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Bird Cage – Imprisoned!

HM Prison Exeter
Paper Craft Gold Award for Craft
2020

A thumbnail preview of Boa Out of Bounds, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Boa Out of Bounds

HM Prison Risley
Bronze Award for Digital Art
2020

A thumbnail preview of Tea Time, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Tea Time

HM Prison Glenochil
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2019

A thumbnail preview of Stop Spending – Sit and Make a Change, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Stop Spending – Sit and Make a Change

HM Prison Bronzefield
Frederick Davies Platinum Award for Textile Art
2019

A thumbnail preview of Remember (Old German), an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Remember (Old German)

HM Prison Bure
Silver Award for Calligraphy
2019

A thumbnail preview of Picasso’s Cat, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Picasso’s Cat

HM Prison Frankland
Platinum Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019

A thumbnail preview of Mermaid Out of Water, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Mermaid Out of Water

HM Young Offenders Centre Hydebank Wood
Platinum Award for Beauty
2019

A thumbnail preview of Erlestoke Cards, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Erlestoke Cards

HM Prison Erlestoke
Paul Zimmermann Silver Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019

A thumbnail preview of Creature Comforts, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Creature Comforts

HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Askham Grange
First-Time Entrant Award for Craft
2019

A thumbnail preview of Colours of Nature, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Colours of Nature

HM Prison Wakefield
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2019

A thumbnail preview of Windmill (Motorised), an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Windmill (Motorised)

HM Prison Isle of Wight (Parkhurst)
Lord Ted Bishopston First-Time Entrant Award for Matchstick Model
2018

A thumbnail preview of Thinking of You, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Thinking of You

HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2018

A thumbnail preview of The Post Boy, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

The Post Boy

HM Prison Downview
Bronze Award for Craft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Serving Time, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Serving Time

HM Prison Wakefield
Silver Award for Matchstick Model
2018

A thumbnail preview of Scott’s Superheroes, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Scott’s Superheroes

HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc
Gill Hope Retirement Highly Commended Award for Craft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Peace of Music, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Peace of Music

HM Prison Usk
Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Pandora’s Pencil Box, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Pandora’s Pencil Box

HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Mixed Connections, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Mixed Connections

HM Prison Rye Hill
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2018

A thumbnail preview of How I Felt, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

How I Felt

HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Lamberth Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Handbag, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Handbag

Fromeside Clinic (secure mental health unit)
Silver Award for Fashion
2018

A thumbnail preview of From Dreams to Hopes, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

From Dreams to Hopes

HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany)
Commended Award for Craft
2018

A thumbnail preview of Connections within Hair, Art, Culture & Nature, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

Connections within Hair, Art, Culture & Nature

HM Prison Send (women’s establishment)
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2018

A thumbnail preview of All the Way Home, an example of Visual Art work from the Craft and Design exhibition.

All the Way Home

HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Highly Commended Award for Handmade Book
2018

Explore more artforms

Take a closer look at the work of Koestler Awards entrants in the online galleries.

Click here
Koestler Arts
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