Grace Easton’s “House with the Little Red Door” is shortlisted for the V&A illustration award

Grace Easton’s “House with the Little Red Door” has been shortlisted for the V&A Illustration Award in the category Illustration for Children. The heartwarming picture book with stunning illustrations was published by Thames and Hudson in September 2025.

Grace said of the work;

The House with the Little Red Door was created as a reflection on the idea of home, not just as a physical place, but as an emotional and imaginative space that anchors childhood. My work is drawn to the poetry of domestic objects: the furniture, fridge magnets, tea towels, the small details that give a house its texture. In this book, I wanted to linger on those specifics, celebrating the material things that make a space feel cherished.

The book features twenty-two die-cut flaps. Conceived as an integral part of the storytelling, I approached the book as a physical object, thinking carefully about how each flap brings an object to life and introduces an element of play. As the title suggests, the little red door becomes an invitation, echoed throughout the book by many small ‘doors’ to open, creating a rhythm of opening and closing, and a sense of being gently enveloped within the world of the house.

The artwork was painted by hand in gouache. Working with physical media was essential to the project; the evidence of the hand mirrors the book’s themes of intimacy, care, and attention, reinforcing the idea of the book itself as a cherished object.

House with the Little Red Door is available to purchase from all major retailers and lots of independent bookshops, such as here at Shelf Editions.