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.

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

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

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

The Horizon From My Cell Window
HM Prison Holme House
Victor Cook Highly Commended Award for Digital Art
2020

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

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

Stop Spending – Sit and Make a Change
HM Prison Bronzefield
Frederick Davies Platinum Award for Textile Art
2019

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

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

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

Pandora’s Pencil Box
HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018

How I Felt
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Lamberth Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2018
Explore more artforms
Take a closer look at the work of Koestler Awards entrants in the online galleries.
Click here