Illustration students compete for prestigious award

Tuesday 18 October 2005

Eleven students with a passion for flora and fauna illustration will vie for one of the University of Newcastle's most prestigious awards this week, the 2005 Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award.

The Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award recognises the work of talented students in the University of Newcastle's Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) program. The University of Newcastle is the only institution in Australia to offer such a program.

Margaret Senior was one of Australia's most prominent and respected wildlife illustrators who died in 1995 leaving a bequest to the University of Newcastle to encourage the continuing study of Natural History Illustration.

Chris Sanders, Senior Lecturer in Natural History Illustration, says each student has submitted a portfolio of prescribed wildlife illustrations, with works demonstrating the mastering of many different techniques and mediums.

"The award not only provides encouragement in the form of financial reward, but also seeks to stimulate and motivate students to explore and research this unique field of study," says Chris.

The winner of the 2005 Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award will receive a $1000 prize, which is made available by the NSW Parks and Wildlife Division Department of Environment and Conservation and a bequest from the late Margaret Senior.

The winner of the 2005 Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award will be announced on Thursday 20 October 2005 at 11.30am in the foyer of the University of Newcastle Design Building, Callaghan campus.

For further information and media interviews please contact Chris Sanders at the School of Design, Communication and Technology on (02) 4921 6371.