Earlier this month I entered the annual Young Cartoonist of the Year Awards, in the Under 30 category. The awards, run by the Cartoon Art Trust, have received a fair bit of attention and apparently there were over 500 entries this year. I didn't win, but I was very pleased to find out that I made the shortlist of 11 runners-up! I also received an encouraging letter (with handwritten comments) from Martin Rowson, renowned political cartoonist and chairman of the British Cartoonists' Association. It was worth entering just for that.

All entrants were required to submit one original hand-drawn cartoon. Here's the one I chose to enter:





I originally shopped this gag around the usual mags about six months ago, in an earlier version - black and white and far more rigid. I like this looser, more vibrant version better.

Christian Adams, political cartoonist for The Daily Telegraph, was one of the judges and writes about the process here. The Professional Cartoonists' Organisation has more coverage of the awards here.

The Young Cartoonist gongs were dished out to the worthy winners at an awards ceremony in Central London last night. Recipients in some of the other categories included Matt from The Telegraph (Pocket Cartoonist of the Year), The Spectator's cartoon editor, Michael Heath (Lifetime Achievement), and one of my personal favourites, Private Eye/Spectator regular Robert Thompson (Gag Cartoonist of the Year). Well done to all the winners!

As for the Young Cartoonist prize - I have just one year left to enter before I'm officially past it. Fingers crossed!