Mary Anning story wins Klaus Flugge Prize 2024

An inspiring true story of the 19th century fossil hunter Mary Anning has won the prestigious Klaus Flugge Prize for illustration. 

Author and illustrator Kate Winter was crowned most exciting newcomer to picture book illustration with her atmospheric and eye-catching biography, The Fossil Hunter (Puffin Books).  It is the first time an information picture book has won the £5,000 prize.

The Fossil Hunter tells the story of Mary Anning, the 19th century palaeontologist whose discoveries in the cliffs of Lyme Regis transformed scientists' understanding of the world. Via atmospheric watercolour illustrations, the book skilfully tells Mary's personal story and details her discoveries and their scientific impact.  The Fossil Hunter also tells a wider story about the history of the world and Mary Anning's role in challenging 19th century society

Kate Winter carried out much of her research for the book at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences in Cambridge, where she lives, as well as at the Natural History Museum, London. She also read Mary Anning's letters and journals and spent time in Lyme Regis, and it was walking on the beach and drawing in the places Mary loved that helped her really get to know her subject.

She said, "Mary was a creative thinker. She dared to dream up something no one had ever thought of before. That's what I want to do with my work: I want to show new ways of looking at things and I want to take readers on a magical journey."

Special gatefolds are a key part of the book, opening to reveal the prehistoric past, allowing readers to dip into Mary's mind to see what she is thinking.  Describing her approach, and use of gatefolds, Winter said, "I wanted to write in a way that would engage the reader and pull them into Mary's world. 

"I wanted the reader to hear Mary's voice and see her ideas and imagination, so they could understand her motivation and the passion she had for the work she did.  The illustrations were integral to that, moving between factual spaces of the 19th century to imagined prehistoric scenes."

The Klaus Flugge Prize judges describe The Fossil Hunter as a beautiful book and admired Kate Winter's observational skills.  Judge Petr Horáček, an award-winning illustrator, said, "The Fossil Hunter stood out even in a very strong shortlist. It is a beautifully produced book in which the informative text, the story and the illustrations are in perfect harmony. The energetic, well drawn and painted illustrations are a real treat for a reader of any age."

Kate Winter thanked the Klaus Flugge Prize "for championing creativity and children's book illustration".  She added, "I've worked in creative industries all my life and it's a very hard gig. We need to support our visual artists and highlight their importance in the world.

"Picture books are some of the first images our children see and bring new ideas and perspectives to young people. They really can effect change. I'm forever grateful to those who recognise the value of the visual arts, support creativity and champion children's book illustration as an art form. Thank you, Klaus Flugge, for your part in this."

Illustrated non-fiction children's books

Chair of the judges, Julia Eccleshare, said, "There is a strong history of illustrated non-fiction in children's books, and we are excited that this year's Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to an information picture book. Non-fiction stories have been shortlisted previously, but this is the first time an information book has won.

"Each of the illustrators on our very strong shortlist has their own style, and their ability to communicate mood, character and narrative through illustration is thrilling. Congratulations to them all and very special thanks again to Klaus Flugge who has done so much to support and promote illustrators throughout his long career."

Klaus Flugge Prize 2024 Shortlist

The Klaus Flugge Prize was set up in 2016 to honour publisher Klaus Flugge, an influential figure in picture books. Flugge set up Andersen Press in 1976 and discovered and nurtured many of today's most distinguished illustrators including David McKee, Tony Ross, Satoshi Kitamura, Ruth Brown and Susan Varley. In April 2023 he was awarded the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award.

Alongside illustrators Petr Horáčék and Mariajo Ilustrajo, this year's judges are Olivia Ahmad, artistic director at the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration; and Alex Forbes, founder of independent bookshop Fourbears Books. The panel is chaired by Julia Eccleshare, director, Hay Children's Festival.

Photographs by Adrian Pope. Follow the news @KlausFluggePrize #KlausFluggePrize2024