I won some awards, Looshkin prints, and The Phoenix digital event!
I need to work out how to put links in this thing huh
Hello! I’ve been trying to work out what I’ve mentioned here and what I haven’t so apologies if I repeat myself. I will number the new things here so they’re easy to navigate:
I won two awards at the British Book Awards last month, Illustrator Of The Year and Children’s Illustrated Book Of The Year, which is obviously BONKERS. Still hasn’t quite sunk in. Here are me awards
Also I did a couple of speeches (on a stage! That was nerve wracking!) which you can see on my Instagram, just search jamiefumboo on there to find my account.
I’m also up for OTHER AWARDS. I don’t want to be greedy, but it would be remiss of me not to mention it. I’ve been shortlisted for The Lollies in the 6-8 category and the illustrator of the year category, if you wanted to vote in either you can do so HERE: https://shop.scholastic.co.uk/lollies/shortlist. I’m also up for a Scholastic Graphic Novel Prize here https://www.sla.org.uk/Services/Public/News/Articles/2024/Scholastic-Graphic-Novel-Prize-Shortlist-2024.aspx but I think that’s voted for in schools rather than the general public. It’s still LOVELY though, and I get to go to awards shows and eat posh finger food, so I’m winning either way.
LOOSHKIN PRINT! A lot of people ask about prints and I’ve never really had any to offer, but recently Gosh comic shop in London asked if I’d like to do one and I jumped at it.
So they’re currently selling an exclusive A3 Looshkin print (the print/paper quality is really nice too), which I’ve signed, and my share of the profits go to Read For Good, the excellent charity who send children’s books into hospitals. I also popped in and signed their first batch of 100. If you want to buy one, they’re available here: https://goshlondon.com/looshkin-chomp-print-by-jamie-smart/
PHOENIX DIGITAL! So tickets for The Phoenix festival went super fast, as ever, all 1300 (I think?) of them. But The Phoenix are simultaneously doing an online version on the day, which will show the main workshops (including mine) live, as well as some exclusive backstage stuff going on too. I’ve been privy to some of the details and they’re really going all out to try and make it a special event for digital viewers. So if you and the kids fancy a day of drawing along with us all (it will get very silly, I must warn you) online, you can still get digital tickets here: https://thephoenixcomic.co.uk/phoenix-fest/
I think that was everything. What else. Oh we went to see the Spirited Away live show, that was amazing. The paperback of BVM Impossible Pig comes out in July. Then the fourth Max And Chaffy book is out in August. There’s been lots of other stuff going on but I’m probably not allowed to say. And anyway at the time of writing this it’s too hot and I’m sure you’re sick of me by now. So have a great rest of June and I’ll be back in touch if I have any more signings or events lining up.
Congrats on the awards! I was looking to follow you on Twitter as my daughter and her entire class is obsessed with your BVM and Loushkin work - I saw like many brilliant folk you'd left Twitter to come here, and so for the first time I have downloaded Substack today! Yay! looking forward to the digital Phoenix Festival!
As a side note, I quit my arts focused legal career recently to focus full time on growing the work of the sustainability charity I set up 5 years ago, after the school climate strikes, Greener & Cleaner, and I recon this platform will be a brilliant way to share tips, stories and signpost events/funding to folks. Thank you!!!!