Phil's book named Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year

Phil Rigby's Portrait of Cumbria was revealed as the winner of the award at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal on Tuesday (July 10).

Photographer Phil's book was chosen from almost 50 entries and was celebrated as the overall victor alongside five other category winners.

The judges, author Hunter Davies OBE, Cumbria Tourism chairman Eric Robson and newscaster and author Fiona Armstrong, entertained 150 attendees as they discussed the finalists before celebrating the winners.

Phil said: “I am thrilled and delighted to win this year’s Lakeland Book of the Year Award. The book wouldn’t have come about without the amazing team at Cumbria Life Magazine, who each month discover new characters and places in Cumbria for me to photograph.”

Gill Haigh, Cumbria Tourism MD, added: “I am very proud of our continuing support for the Lakeland Book of the Year, an annual highlight in Cumbria’s events calendar. For me, the Lake District Book of the Year Awards underline just why our county continues to inspire millions of visitors each year, to enjoy the stunning landscape which inspired the Lakeland greats of Wordsworth, Coleridge and so many more, and continues to do so to this day.

"I feel excited too about the potential there is to link into many other outstanding events across Cumbria and in turn to help share the high-quality writing with the greatest possible audience.“

Winners

The Hunter Davies Lakeland Book of the Year 2018

Portrait of Cumbria by Phil Rigby

The Zeffirellis Prize for People and Business

The Thunder of Guns by Alan Michael Whitworth

The Striding Edge Prize for Guides and Places

The Yards of Kendal by Trevor Hughes and Arthur Nicholls

The Bill Rollinson Prize for Landscape and Tradition

The Story of Lowther by Charlotte Fairbairn

The Latitude Press Prize for Illustration and Presentation

Portrait of Cumbria by Phil Rigby

The Bookends Prize for Art and Literature

The Blackbird Diaries by Karen Lloyd