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.
Semi-Skimmed Spilt Milk
Caro Millington
HM Prison High Down
Silver Award for Craft
2024
Boom Boom Boom Boomerang
Atkinson Secure Unit (secure children’s home)
Fast Feedback Commended Award for Woodcraft
2024
Art Class
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Change Through Art Outstanding Debut Award for Needlecraft
2024
Jenga Jungle
HM Prison Ashfield
Charlton Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2024
IPP Injustice
HM Prison Woodhill
Gold Award for Handmade Book
2024
So Small
HM Prison Edinburgh
The Arts Society Ayrshire Commended Award for Craft
2024
Hetty the Hedgehog
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Steve Collett Commended Award for Needlecraft
2024
Bag of Chips
HM Prison Send
Lamberth Foundation Bronze Award for Fashion
2024
A Prisoner’s Best Friend
HM Prison Gartree
Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2024
Coat of Cards
HM Prison Brixton
Artists’ Collecting Society Platinum Award for Fashion
2024
Fresh Start
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Tom Barnard Highly Commended Award for Calligraphy
2024
How Much Is That Doggy?
Atkinson Secure Unit (secure children’s home)
Fast Feedback Highly Commended Award for Craft
2024
Identity Mask
HM Young Offender Institution Aylesbury
Michael Murphy Under 25s Special Award for Craft
2023
Rabbit
HM Prison Gartree
Bowman Smart Bronze Award for Needlecraft
2023
Chess Board and Pieces
HM Prison Edinburgh
Outstanding Debut Award for Matchstick Model
2023
Gold Cat Card
HM Prison Channings Wood
Bronze Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2023
Caravela
Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre
Unilink Platinum Award for Woodcraft
2023
Suit
HM Prison Thameside
Arts Society Greater London Area Platinum Award for Fashion
2023
DayGo Mouse
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Parkhurst)
Platinum Award for Handmade Book
2023
Seize the Day
HM Prison Whatton
Platinum Award for Calligraphy
2023
A Taste of Things to Come
Commended Award for Handmade Book
2022
The Q
HM Prison Greenock
Platinum Award for Graphic Design
2022
Tree of Qualities
HM Prison Woodhill
Commended Award for Calligraphy
2022
Teddy’s Bear Chair
HM Prison Warren Hill
Silver Award for Furniture
2022
Summer Lovin
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2022
Stick Head
HM Prison Littlehey
Outstanding Debut Award for Woodcraft
2022
Sea Tortoise Card
HM Prison Northumberland
Highly Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2022
Matchstick Tower of Affirmations
HM Prison Littlehey
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2022
Fold Over Purses
St Andrew’s Healthcare Birmingham
Bronze Award for Fashion
2022
Stay Safe
HM Prison Bronzefield
Silver Award for Fashion
2021
Shooting for the Stars!
HM Prison Kilmarnock
Gold Award for Hairstyling
2021
Rainbows
HM Prison Bure
Gold Award for Calligraphy
2021
Man’s Best Friend
HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Handmade Book
2021
Incarcerated Heart
Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – Bournemouth
Commended Award for Matchstick Model
2021
Hairstyles
The Ayr Clinic
Bronze Award for Hairstyling
2021
Glitzy Girl
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Cornton Vale
Platinum Award for Needlecraft
2021
Genevieve’s Crow
HM Prison Pentonville
Bronze Award for Graphic Design
2021
Design Development
Aycliffe Secure Centre
Charlton Bronze Award for Furniture
2021
Carnival Make-Up
HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Beauty
2021
All That Glitters
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Craft
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
A Column of Words
Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – Bournemouth
Commended Award for Woodcraft
2021
To Trumbo
NPS West Sussex
Platinum Award for Calligraphy
2020
Window Box
HM Prison Erlestoke
Platinum Award for Textile Art
2020
White Quilt Vase
HM Prison Peterborough
Paper Craft Bronze Award for Craft
2020
Traditional Vietnamese House
Colnbrook IRC
Hope Bronze Award for Craft
2020
The Round Stuff
HM Prison Glenochil
Platinum Award for Handmade Book
2020
The Horizon From My Cell Window
HM Prison Holme House
Victor Cook Highly Commended Award for Digital Art
2020
Patience
HM Prison Dovegate
Gold Award for Matchstick Model
2020
My J Cloth Cardigan
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Kath & Harry Bryan First-Time Entrant Award for Fashion
2020
Jungle Oasis
HM Prison Bronzefield
Jack Thornton Silver Award for Needlecraft
2020
Horse With No Name
HM Prison Frankland
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2020
Goldrush Train
HM Prison Glenochil
Lady Bishopston Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2020
Caged Love Hurts Bad
Harmondsworth IRC
Department of Law and Criminology, Royal Holloway University of London Platinum Award for Craft
2020
Bird Cage – Imprisoned!
HM Prison Exeter
Paper Craft Gold Award for Craft
2020
Boa Out of Bounds
HM Prison Risley
Bronze Award for Digital Art
2020
Tea Time
HM Prison Glenochil
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2019
Stop Spending – Sit and Make a Change
HM Prison Bronzefield
Frederick Davies Platinum Award for Textile Art
2019
Remember (Old German)
HM Prison Bure
Silver Award for Calligraphy
2019
Picasso’s Cat
HM Prison Frankland
Platinum Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019
Mermaid Out of Water
HM Young Offenders Centre Hydebank Wood
Platinum Award for Beauty
2019
Erlestoke Cards
HM Prison Erlestoke
Paul Zimmermann Silver Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019
Creature Comforts
HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Askham Grange
First-Time Entrant Award for Craft
2019
Colours of Nature
HM Prison Wakefield
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2019
Windmill (Motorised)
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Parkhurst)
Lord Ted Bishopston First-Time Entrant Award for Matchstick Model
2018
Thinking of You
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2018
The Post Boy
HM Prison Downview
Bronze Award for Craft
2018
Serving Time
HM Prison Wakefield
Silver Award for Matchstick Model
2018
Scott’s Superheroes
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc
Gill Hope Retirement Highly Commended Award for Craft
2018
Peace of Music
HM Prison Usk
Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018
Pandora’s Pencil Box
HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018
Mixed Connections
HM Prison Rye Hill
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2018
How I Felt
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Lamberth Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2018
Handbag
Fromeside Clinic (secure mental health unit)
Silver Award for Fashion
2018
From Dreams to Hopes
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany)
Commended Award for Craft
2018
Connections within Hair, Art, Culture & Nature
HM Prison Send (women’s establishment)
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2018
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