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.
Trapped
HM Prison Whatton
Gold Award for Craft
2017
To Trumbo
NPS West Sussex
Platinum Award for Calligraphy
2020
Window Box
HM Prison Erlestoke
Platinum Award for Textile Art
2020
Windmill (Motorised)
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Parkhurst)
Lord Ted Bishopston First-Time Entrant Award for Matchstick Model
2018
White Quilt Vase
HM Prison Peterborough
Paper Craft Bronze Award for Craft
2020
The Q
HM Prison Greenock
Platinum Award for Graphic Design
2022
Tree of Qualities
HM Prison Woodhill
Commended Award for Calligraphy
2022
Traditional Vietnamese House
Colnbrook IRC
Hope Bronze Award for Craft
2020
Thinking of You
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2018
The Round Stuff
HM Prison Glenochil
Platinum Award for Handmade Book
2020
The Post Boy
HM Prison Downview
Bronze Award for Craft
2018
The Horizon From My Cell Window
HM Prison Holme House
Victor Cook Highly Commended Award for Digital Art
2020
The Hole (and Scrapbook)
Sheffield Community Enhancing Recovery Team
Gold Award for Handmade Book
2017
Teddy’s Bear Chair
HM Prison Warren Hill
Silver Award for Furniture
2022
Tea Time
HM Prison Glenochil
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2019
Sweet Sendsation
HM Prison Send
Gold Award for Needlecraft
2016
Swan Lake
HM Prison Stanford Hill
Gold Award for Themed Category: Comfort
2016
Summer Shirt
HM Prison Brixton
Highly Commended Award for Fashion
2016
Summer Lovin
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2022
Stop Spending – Sit and Make a Change
HM Prison Bronzefield
Frederick Davies Platinum Award for Textile Art
2019
Stick Head
HM Prison Littlehey
Outstanding Debut Award for Woodcraft
2022
Stay Safe
HM Prison Bronzefield
Silver Award for Fashion
2021
Shooting for the Stars!
HM Prison Kilmarnock
Gold Award for Hairstyling
2021
Serving Time
HM Prison Wakefield
Silver Award for Matchstick Model
2018
Sea Tortoise Card
HM Prison Northumberland
Highly Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2022
Scott’s Superheroes
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc
Gill Hope Retirement Highly Commended Award for Craft
2018
Roses Growing in the Wild
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Drake Hall (women’s establishment)
Commended Award for Beauty
2018
Remember (Old German)
HM Prison Bure
Silver Award for Calligraphy
2019
Rainbows
HM Prison Bure
Gold Award for Calligraphy
2021
Puppet Master
HM Prison Edinburgh
Sir Hugh Casson Platinum Award for Craft
2017
Prayers Without Frontiers
Cambian Oaks (Secure Mental Health Unit)
Silver Award for Themed Category: Comfort
2016
Picasso’s Cat
HM Prison Frankland
Platinum Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019
Love
HM Prison Rye Hill
Bronze Award for Calligraphy
2018
Peace of Music
HM Prison Usk
Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018
Patience
HM Prison Dovegate
Gold Award for Matchstick Model
2020
Pandora’s Pencil Box
HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)
Emdee Bronze Award for Woodcraft
2018
Origami Paper Table
Rampton Hospital
Gold Award for Craft
2017
My J Cloth Cardigan
HM Prison Eastwood Park
Kath & Harry Bryan First-Time Entrant Award for Fashion
2020
Mixed Connections
HM Prison Rye Hill
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2018
Mermaid Out of Water
HM Young Offenders Centre Hydebank Wood
Platinum Award for Beauty
2019
Matchstick Tower of Affirmations
HM Prison Littlehey
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2022
Man’s Best Friend
HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Handmade Book
2021
Jungle Oasis
HM Prison Bronzefield
Jack Thornton Silver Award for Needlecraft
2020
How I Felt
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton
Lamberth Highly Commended Award for Needlecraft
2018
Horse With No Name
HM Prison Frankland
Commended Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2020
Homo Survivus
HM Prison Isle of Wight
Simon Wethered Highly Commended Award for Matchstick Model
2017
Handbag
Fromeside Clinic (secure mental health unit)
Silver Award for Fashion
2018
Hairstyles
The Ayr Clinic
Bronze Award for Hairstyling
2021
Grandfather Clock
HM Prison Grendon
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2016
Graffiti
HM Prison Hewell
Silver Award for Calligraphy
2018
Goldrush Train
HM Prison Glenochil
Lady Bishopston Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2020
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
From Dreams to Hopes
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany)
Commended Award for Craft
2018
Fold Over Purses
St Andrew’s Healthcare Birmingham
Bronze Award for Fashion
2022
Flowers of Adversity
HM Prison Peterborough
Sir Hugh Casson Platinum Award for Craft
2016
Flower Head Creation
HM Prison Peterborough
Shaftesbury Bronze Award for Craft
2017
Erlestoke Cards
HM Prison Erlestoke
Paul Zimmermann Silver Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2019
Design Development
Aycliffe Secure Centre
Charlton Bronze Award for Furniture
2021
Creature Comforts
HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution Askham Grange
First-Time Entrant Award for Craft
2019
Connections within Hair, Art, Culture & Nature
HM Prison Send (women’s establishment)
Silver Award for Hairstyling
2018
Colours of Nature
HM Prison Wakefield
Bronze Award for Matchstick Model
2019
Carriage Clock
HM Prison Grendon
Commended Award for Woodcraft
2016
Carnival Make-Up
HM Prison Bronzefield
Gold Award for Beauty
2021
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
Box of Birds
HM Prison Rye Hill
Silver Award for Craft
2016
Book Paper Wreath
HM Prison Peterborough
Hope Highly Commended Award for Craft
2017
Boa Out of Bounds
HM Prison Risley
Bronze Award for Digital Art
2020
Authentic HMP Collage Greetings Cards
Camden and Islington Probation Service
Gold Award for Handmade Greetings Card
2017
All the Way Home
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution East Sutton Park
Highly Commended Award for Handmade Book
2018
All That Glitters
HM Prison Edinburgh
Commended Award for Craft
2021
A Taste of Things to Come
Commended Award for Handmade Book
2022
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
Incarcerated Heart
Dorset, Devon and Cornwall CRC – Bournemouth
Commended Award for Matchstick Model
2021
Explore more artforms
Take a closer look at the work of Koestler Awards entrants in the online galleries.
Click here