<p dir="ltr">Queer artist Sean Morgan’s illustrations were chosen and will create a vibrantly colourful and humorous look to reflect the diversity of the festival’s ever expanding global audience.</p> <p dir="ltr">Caerphilly-born Sean graduated from Plymouth College of Art in 2020 with a First Class Honours in <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-illustration">BA (Hons) Illustration</a> and now currently living in Plymouth, Sean plans to return to the college this autumn to study <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-illustration">MA Illustration</a>. An artist who enjoys exploring the everyday through texture, shape and humour, Sean’s craft “revolves around humour and celebration of the everyday, all within simple shapes and crunchy texture.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am incredibly proud about being commissioned by Iris Prize. The team have been a pleasure to work alongside and I think I’ve created something really special to me and hopefully others, something that really celebrates the LGBTQIA community in a wonderful way. The Iris Prize is the perfect way to do this, a brilliant festival celebrating the beauty and diversity of our community.”<br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Sean’s design work has already received recognition, having been selected for the Nationwide Degree Show 2020 and his toxic masculinity booklet featured in the New Designers exhibition, with other achievements including <a href="https://issuu.com/plymouthcollegeofart/docs/laud_issue_one">co-creating a new magazine for Plymouth students</a>. Sean’s designs will now be seen across all marketing and social media for Iris Prize from August 2021. <a href="https://www.seanmgnart.com/">You can find more of Sean’s work on his website.</a><br /></p>

<p dir="ltr">Berwyn Rowlands, Festival Director, said of the commission: “We are delighted with Sean’s designs and can’t wait to introduce audiences to his work. We needed something that would stand out on a small badge or mug, next to something that would fill a giant cinema screen. Sean has given us something which is both intimate and epic.”</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">Iris Prize is committed to becoming a world leader in sharing LGBT+ films to as wide an audience as possible by encouraging diversity and understanding, and supporting future film making. </p> <p dir="ltr">The main festival sponsors are The Michael Bishop Foundation, Welsh Government, the BFI awarding funds from the National Lottery, Ffilm Cymru Wales, Film4, University of South Wales, Cardiff University, Co-op Respect, Bad Wolf, Gorilla Group, Peccadillo Pictures, Pinewood Studios, Attitude Magazine, Diva Magazine and The Ministry of Sound. The festival also works in partnership with BAFTA Cymru, Pride Cymru and Stonewall Cymru.<br /></p>