Gold Winner Emma FitzGerald, Hand Drawn Halifax
Silver Winner Jan Sebastian LaPierre, A for Adventure
Bronze Winner Natalie Corbett Sampson, It Should Have Been A #GoodDay
Emma FitzGerald’s beloved illustrations of local buildings and landmarks began by accident, also known as “economic necessity,” says the artist and author of your favourite book, Hand Drawn Halifax. “I’d lost my job and I knew I could draw so I thought I’d do house portraits.” Her first was Dee Dee’s Ice Cream in 2013; several area houses and businesses were subsequently added, until a book became undeniable. (There’s also a colouring companion; FitzGerald credits her publisher, Formac, with suggesting she expand beyond the north end.) FitzGerald draws her delicately lined, intricately detailed portraits on site, which means she’s been taking lots of road trips prepping for next year’s follow-up about the south shore. “I’m really touched and it was a nice surprise,” she says of this BOH win. “A real special honour.”
