(Above) James Hood's cartoon won the under-30 competition. © The Cartoon Museum
Some of the finest cartoonists in the UK were honoured at the 14th Cartoon Art Trust Awards at The Mall Galleries in London last night.
Organisers from The Cartoon Museum heralded the ceremony, which was held as part of a fundraising dinner, as a huge success.
Winners included 12-year-old Emilia Franklin, from Hereford, whose drawing of a lighthouse owner hampered by energy-saving lightbulbs triumphed at the under-18s category. 27-year-old Londoner James Hood won the under-30s competition.
Illustrator Raymond Briggs, who is best-known for his timeless Christmas book The Snowman, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his body of work, which Guardian cartoonist Posy Simmonds saluted for the “tender and funny” qualities underscoring his passionate style.
Emilia Franklin's effort won the under-18 section. © The Cartoon Museum
A host of well-known names were invited to administer the awards, with MP Kenneth Clarke handing the Political Award to The Daily Telegraph’s Nicholas Garland and acclaimed former Times cartoonist Peter Brookes dishing out the Caricature Award to the Guardian’s Nicola Jennings.
Alex, a long-running sketch chronicling the cynicism of life for jaded businessmen, won The Pont Award, which honours depictions of the British character. Russell Taylor and Charles Peattie have been creating the strip since 1987.
The event also marked the opening of the Giles – One of the Family exhibition at The Cartoon Museum, which runs until the February 15 2009.
