A RETIRED teacher from Furness has won a national award for illustration.

Janet Pickering, of Dalton, is one of 12 illustrators to win the Undiscovered Voices Award. The initiative is run by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators British Isles to help the publishing industry discover the brightest new talents in children’s literature.

The University of Central Lancashire MA Fine Art student's ‘Pandora finds hope’ illustration has been published in the Undiscovered Voices 2018 anthology that will go on sale across the country.

The 60-year-old worked at a number of small primary schools in Cumbria and Cheshire, including Penny Bridge CE Academy, during her 30-year career before completing a “life-changing” art foundation course at Kendal College.

The student who started a master's degree at UCLan in 2016, said: “I am delighted to win this award. I was food shopping when I got the call to say I’d won so it took me completely by surprise and now I’m absolutely delighted.”

Mrs Pickering entered the competition after it called for a scene from a well-known myth from anywhere in the world. After working closely with the UCLan Publishing House on several projects throughout her two-year course, she felt like she already had an idea in mind.

She said: “I’d already been asked to draw a menacing illustration for a book, which required me to draw a scene suggesting something sinister without actually showing it.

“I approached the competition in a similar way, suggesting the potential evil lurking in Pandora’s box but also showing a glimmer of hope. It was all drawn with a graphite pencil and I’m really pleased with the final outcome.”

In addition to being featured in the book, winning the competition means that she can also present at an event in February attended by top publishers and agents.

Mrs Pickering, who volunteers at Dalton St Mary's CE School, said: “My dream is to have a second career as an illustrator and hopefully this will open doors for me. When I was teaching, I didn’t have as much time as I wanted to draw and I’ve always felt a lot of my talent went unused. Going back to university and winning this competition feels like I’ve addressed the balance so it’s a very exciting time.”

Debbie Williams, reader and associate professor in publishing at UCLan, said: “It is fantastic news. This is a national award to showcase what the publishing industry believes to be the most talented, but as yet uncontracted, writers and illustrators of the future. Janet is an outstanding student who has used her skills to work closely with our in-house publishing team on several projects. There is usually a fight between publishers and agents to sign up winners so I’m sure Janet has a great career ahead of her.”

Mrs Pickering will complete her course in September. She said: “I’m really enjoying it and think it’s very important that older people are encouraged to return to education. I’ve met new people of all different ages and we’ve learned so much from each other.”

The illustrator has worked on is a book called Cold Bath Street, written by bestselling author A J Hartley and set in the tunnels underneath Preston. This will be launched at Foyles Charing Cross Road and the London Book Fair on April 12. It will be on general sale in Waterstones and Amazon from April 13.