Havana, featuring illustrations of the Cuban city by artist Leslie Gerry, and printed by Gerry on his own Epson Stylus Pro 7880 wide-format printer, won the Book of the Year prize and also won the best Photographic Books, Art & Architecture category.
The 60pp 470x350mm format book was printed onto Somerset mould-made cotton paper from St Cuthberts Mill and Hahnemuhle Photo paper, and bound by Ludlow Bookbinders. It is available in two different binding styles in a limited edition of 80 copies, with the deluxe leather-bound version costing £3,750.
Gerry has developed a signature style involving painting with a palette of flat colours, using a Wacom tablet and Adobe Illustrator.
The judges said: “Quite simply, Havana is a joy to hold, a delight to look at and a pleasure to handle, making this a truly worthy overall winner.”
Gerry told PrintWeek: "It is gratifying to receive recognition for locking myself up in a small studio for a year and creating something worthwhile, a work of art."
The event was hosted by comedian Jenny Eclair, herself the author of a number of best-selling books.
Opening the evening, BPIF chief executive Charles Jarrold pointed to the continued increase in sales of printed books, defying some expectations that the medium would be eclipsed by e-readers.
“It’s been another year of proving that people love books,” he said. “The book world is in rude health. It is creative, vibrant, and competitive.”
The shortlisted books were overwhelming printed overseas, but a number of UK printers were involved in the production of winning entries, including TJ International, The Salvage Press, CPI Books, Boss Print, Pureprint Group and Taylor Brothers in Bristol.
The specific award for Best British Book went to David Holmes’ Book, published by Impress and printed by Geoff Neal Group with binding by Diamond Print Services.
The winners were:
Brand/Series Identity
Tales from the City, Hoxton Mini Press
Printed by: n/d
Limited Edition & Fine Binding
Winter, The Salvage Press
Printed by: letterpress printed at The Salvage Press
Bound by: Duffy Bookbinders
Self-Published Books
Kantor’s Gems, Moshe Kantor and Anna Kantor
Printed and bound by: Graphicom, Italy
Digitally Printed Books
Taking Measure, Neil Folberg
Printed by: Pureprint Group
Bound by: Ludlow Bookbinders
Production management: Hurtwood
Exhibition Catalogues
Searching for Eve in the American West, Tristan Hoare
Printed and bound by: Boss Print
Photographic Books, Art & Architecture Monographs
Havana, Leslie Gerry Editions
Printed by: Leslie Gerry Editions
Bound by: Ludlow Bookbinders
Graphic Novels
The One Hundred Nights of Hero, Jonathan Cape
Printed and bound by: C&C Offset Printing, China
Trade Illustrated
Bitten by Witch Fever, Thames & Hudson
Printed and bound by: Everbest Printing Investments, China
Lifestyle Illustrated
Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos, Allen Lane
Printed and bound by: Mohn Media, Germany
Literature
White Plains: Pieces & Witherlings, Little Island Press
Printed and bound by: TJ International
Educational Books
A World of Information, Walker Books
Printed and bound by: C&C Offset Printing, China
Scholarly, Academic & Reference Books
Micrographia, The Folio Society
Printed by: Memminger MedienCentrum, Germany.
Bound by: Richard Mayer Buchbindermeister, Germany
Childrens’ Trade - 0 to 8 years
The Adventures of 3 Bears
Printed and bound by: Toppan Leefung Printing, China
Childrens’ Trade – 9 to 16 years
Think And Make Like An Artist
Printed and bound by: Reliance Printing, China
Best Jacket/Cover Design
The Animators, Scribe UK
Printed by: CPI Group (UK)
Best Student Book
Kanye, Handy Tandra, University of the West of England
Printed by: Taylor Brothers Bristol
Bound by: Bristol Bound Bookbinding
Best British Book
David Holmes’ Book, Impress
Printed by: Geoff Neal Group
Bound by: Diamond Print Services
