Scarlett Robinson-Kean wins 2026 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize

The Auckland illustrator's take on Aunt Nasty earns her cash, books and the chance to develop it into a published work.

By The Book Source1 September 20261 minute read

IllustrationScarlett Robinson-KeanAunt Nasty

Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand, its children's imprint Little Moa and the Margaret Mahy Estate have named Scarlett Robinson-Kean the winner of the 2026 Margaret Mahy Illustration Prize for her new illustrations of the classic story Aunt Nasty.

She receives $2,000, $500 worth of Hachette books and the chance to develop her entry into a published book. The judges praised her bold approach to layout and character, and her eye for humour and detail, particularly in the title character.

Little Moa children's publisher Alison Shucksmith pointed to the inventive camera angles and use of colour in the entry.

Robinson-Kean is a freelance writer and illustrator based in Tāmaki Makaurau. She finished a Master of Creative Practice at Unitec with first-class honours in 2025, and her graphic novel To seed, to sprout, to seed won a Bronze Pin at the 2025 Best Design Awards. Earlier this year she received the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Springboard Award for Illustration, with 2023 Laureate Giselle Clarkson as her mentor.

Original source: Kete Books ↗

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