What began as a creative initiative to expand the collection at our first Stick No Bills gallery in Galle Fort, Sri Lanka, has evolved into a global talent discovery programme, unearthing exceptional illustrators across three continents and launching artistic careers onto the international stage.
From Galle Fort to the World
The No Bill Piece Prize was born in 2013 out of necessity and ambition. When Stick No Bills founders Philip James Baber and Meg Gage Williams opened their first gallery in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Galle Fort, Sri Lanka, they wanted to add contemporary poster artworks that celebrated the island's culture alongside their curated collection of vintage travel posters. The solution? Launch a design competition to discover local talent.
That first winner, Sri Lankan artist Indika Syrian, created two designs that remain among our best-sellers today: "Gamarala (Village Man) Ceylon, 2014" and "Gamaharmony (Gamarala's Loving Wife), Ceylon, 2016." These posters launched Indika's work onto the international stage and established the blueprint for what the Prize represents—a platform where emerging artists meet global opportunity.
A Clear Mission: Artists First, Always
The No Bill Piece Prize was established with dual objectives: to boost the visibility and careers of talented illustrators worldwide while bringing fresh creativity to the travel poster art movement. This isn't just a design competition—it's a strategic talent development programme that creates sustainable partnerships between Stick No Bills and artists who understand both heritage aesthetics and contemporary markets.
Winners don't just receive recognition and prize money; their work joins the permanent Stick No Bills collection, is produced using archival-grade materials and sustainable printing technology, and becomes available as Premium Open Edition posters and Limited Edition fine art prints through our global network of galleries and retail partners.
The 2025 Editions: Three Continents, Three Winners
Over a decade later, the Prize has expanded to reflect Stick No Bills' global footprint, with three regional editions in 2025:
Asia Edition Winner: Olivia Richli Long-time Galle Fort resident Olivia Richli won for her dual-colourway vintage-style maps—Galle Fort Map, Sri Lanka (Blue) and (Jade). After 25 years of living within the Fort's historic ramparts, Richli brought intimate knowledge to her contemporary pleasure maps, which celebrate the city's architectural heritage and lush tropical setting. "I have had a home in the Fort for over 25 years, and it was a joy to create a visual map of the streets around me, honouring their history and their beauty," she explains.
Middle East Edition Winner: Charlie Villagracia Accomplished Dubai-based artist Charlie Villagracia won the inaugural Middle East edition with a stunning motif that captures Dubai both old and new. This competition, held in celebration of our Middle East Flagship Gallery in The Courtyard, Al Quoz, invited artists with deep understanding of the UAE to create hand-illustrated poster artworks celebrating Dubai and Abu Dhabi's natural, cultural, architectural, and historic essence.
"This win holds particular poignancy for me as my late husband Philip James Baber and I were living in Dubai when we first came up with the idea of opening a travel poster gallery," says Meg Gage Williams, CEO and Founder of Stick No Bills. "I'm delighted that Charlie's beautiful artwork will join the global canon of poster art we have developed for this trailblazing city."
Europe Edition
What We're Looking For
Each No Bill Piece Prize edition invites artists with intimate knowledge of a destination to create hand-illustrated travel posters that capture a place's unique spirit. We seek talent that can translate the natural landscapes, architectural heritage, cultural traditions, and typographic essence of iconic destinations into stylish artworks that align with Stick No Bills' distinctive modern art deco aesthetic.
Submissions must be portrait format (2:3 aspect ratio), hand-illustrated and digitally rendered, accompanied by the artist's personal connection to the subject and creative process. Winners receive a cash prize, global distribution through our network, and the opportunity to join the renaissance of travel poster art.
Building a Sustainable Ecosystem
The No Bill Piece Prize exemplifies how commercial success and artist development are complementary, not competing, priorities. By investing in emerging talent and providing global distribution platforms, we demonstrate that championing illustrators serves both our mission to spearhead a poster art renaissance and our business objectives.
Hotels, retailers, cultural institutions, and collectors seeking authentic, locally-inspired artwork benefit from these partnerships. Each winning design joins our extensive collection, which spans remastered vintage posters from pioneering airlines and railways alongside contemporary works from today's most talented illustrators—a testament to our commitment to both heritage preservation and creative innovation.
Stay Tuned
Follow @sticknobillsposters to be the first to know about future No Bill Piece Prize announcements. Whether you're an artist, collector, or travel poster enthusiast, you're part of this global movement celebrating the world's most iconic destinations through the timeless art of poster design.
The No Bill Piece Prize is organized by Stick No Bills in partnership with The Archives Design Group. For artist inquiries and competition details, visit our website or contact info@sticknobillsonline.com
