Simone Lia

Her debut illustrated fiction novel, They Didn't Teach THIS in Worm School! published by Walker Books was described by her German publisher, Königskinder, as "a philosophical essay on friendship". 

Her work is an ongoing investigation into what it means to be human and she often communicates her ideas using anthropomorphism, making her stories accessible to audiences of different ages and backgrounds. Lia has the ability to communicate complex emotional relationships, simply and with a warm sense of humour.

Lakes International Comic Art Festival launches the 2025 “Sophie Castille Award – English” for Comics in Translation

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is pleased to announce the 2025 Sophie Castille Awards for Comics in Translation – English. This year’s award will again be presented in partnership with VIP Brands, Ltd, Comica and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, at the Festival’s annual ceremony in Bowness-on-Windermere on Saturday, 27th September 2025.

Philip Bond

Philip Bond started writing and drawing comics in the seminal '80s DEADLINE magazine. He has since squandered talent on books like The Invisibles, X-Statix, Doctor Who and Eve Stranger, but is frustratingly still best known for drawing Grant Morrison's Kill Your Boyfriend (1995). Philip is currently co-creating, with writer William Potter, the Britpop underdog epic Geezer.

Shelly Bond

Comic Book Editor Shelly Bond has been throwing red ink at comics all-stars and up-and-comers for over three decades including 22 years at Vertigo/DC Comics working with Grant Morrison on The Invisibles, artist Mark Buckingham on Fables, and the comics-to-television series Bodies and iZombie. Currently, Shelly edits the multiple Eisner Award-winning series, Bitter Root, and teaches Comics Editing at Portland State University. 

Shubbak Festival features "Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free" exhibition

Shubbak, the UK's largest festival of contemporary Arab cultures, returns to London next month, running 23rd May until 15th June 2025, bringing new and unexpected voices alongside established artists to audiences across the capital.

Returning this year with an insistence on art in the face of crisis, Shubbak Festival includes the "Enter the Mulberry Tree and Fly Free" exhibition, running Tuesday 27th May - Monday 9th June 2025 at Grand Junction, Rowington Close.

Lakes International Comic Arts Festival partners with Comic Book UK

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival is delighted to announce that it will work in partnership with Comic Book UK, a new comic trade association, to promote the social value of comics and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to engage in comic arts. 

As the only comics organisation in Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio of regularly funded organisations, LICAF creates opportunities for people from all backgrounds to engage in comic arts.  

Coming Soon: “Safaa and the Tent”, the diary of Palestinian cartoonist Safaa Odah

The Lakes International Comic Art Festival, working in collaboration with celebrated Palestinian cartoonist Mohammad Sabaaneh, is delighted to publish Safaa and the Tent, the diary of cartoonist Safaa Odah, from Gaza, with all profits from sales going to Safaa.

Cambridge University collaborates with Festival on research into Comics and Autism

The University of Cambridge is researching the intersection of comics and autism in partnership with the Comics Cultural Impact Collective and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, and others, beginning with the creation of a Best Practice Guide to help make comics communities as inclusive and accessible as possible for autistic people. 

LICAF Now & Next: A Free Online Event

As we begin a fresh new year and as the range of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival’s work continues to grow, we thought it would be the perfect time to tell you more about our current work, future plans, our funding and ongoing opportunities for creators. So don’t miss our free online LICAF Now & Next event on Thursday 13th February 2025, which will include a Q&A session with MC and Festival Patron, Lucy Sullivan. 

Between the Lines #4, our free online magazine, available now

We're delighted to bring you the fourth issue of Between The Lines, our free online magazine focusing on Festival guests and other matters comic, edited by John McShane, designed by Steve Kerner.