The British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) Oxford Brookes University and The Publishers Association have announced the winners of the British Book Design and Production Awards 2010. The awards were celebrated at a glittering gala evening, held at The Lancaster London Hotel on 5th October, with the great and the good of the publishing industry, including a celebrity or two, in attendance.

The awards took the theme of Vultus et Tactus (Look and Feel in Latin) whilst the celebrity host for the event was Andy Hamilton, multitalented star of comedy, television and radio, including shows such as QI and Have I Got News For You, and is also a regular contributor to Radio 4's News Quiz and an occasional panellist on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue.

The evening opened with the Pipes and Drums of the London Scottish Regiment making a spectacular entrance to the proceedings. This year is the regiment's 150th anniversary, and they are one of the five oldest pipe bands in the world, and the world's oldest volunteer pipe band.

BPIF chief executive Michael Johnson then got proceedings underway and reflected to the audience that with continuing pressures from e-books, coupled with the increasing popularity of e-reading devices, "You would begin to wonder whether printed books will be overtaken by e-books," but thankfully this is not the case according to recent research statistics, which showed the popularity of e-books was diminishing. "E-books can offer advantages but a printed book has a unique way of holding our attention and drawing us in," he stated.

Also in attendance was celebrity model and sixties icon Twiggy, whose book Twiggy – A Life in Photographs, won the Trade Illustrated Award. Upon accepting her award, Twiggy said, "It is wonderful that this book has been recognised with this award. For the National Portrait Gallery who had the original idea, and for the photographers whose work has been so beautifully produced, as well as the British designer, Mike Dempsey of Studio Dempsey and the British Printer, St Ives Westerham Press Ltd."

Celia Joicey, Head of The National Portrait Gallery's Publications team also commented, "The National Portrait Gallery is thrilled to have our books recognised as some of the best publications produced in Britain this year. It reflects well on the significant contribution museum publishers are making to the British book trade."

The award for the highly acclaimed Book of the Year this year went to Britain by Bike, published by Anova Books, which received the accolade because according to the judges it was, "Nostalgic in feel yet thoroughly modern and useable, printed on quality paper it is a great little package."

Winner of the Best Student Book award was An Anthology of Fairytales on the theme of the Wicked Stepmother by The Brothers Grimm. Upon winning the award Louise Evans, who edited, typeset, designed, illustrated and handled photography for her book commented, "I am particularly pleased to win this award as it celebrates both the physical and printed tactile qualities of producing a book, which was why I set out to produce a book in the beginning."

In total this year there were 16 awards categories, which each saw a high calibre of quality entrants. The categories included Limited Edition and Fine Binding, Literature and Children's Trade, and also a new category this year called Lifestyle Illustrated.

The awards, which saw a record 430 entries this year, represent the rich diversity and high quality of British book design and production capabilities in the publishing sector. A five-strong panel consisting of industry experts from the design, publishing and production industries met over two days at Oxford Brookes University to select the shortlisted entries and winners.

BPIF Chief Executive Michael Johnson stated: "The quality of the awards this year was of extremely quality and we were delighted with the fantastic amount of entries and the brilliant high production standards. The high quality work by the entrants meant that the judges had a tougher choice than ever in deciding on the final list. The awards ceremony was a highly memorable night and it was wonderful to see the creativity of the entrants being rewarded. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners on their success."

The awards ceremony also raised £1,400 for the BPIF's chosen charity for the evening – The Printing Charity. The prize for the evening was a meal for two at celebrity chef Gary Rhodes restaurant, Rhodes 24.

The category winners were as follows:
Brand/Series Identity
The Unauthorised Guide to Doing Business, entered by TJ International

Limited Edition and Fine Binding
The White Queen, entered by Simon & Schuster

Digitally Printed Books
Claude Monet, entered by Hurtwood Press
Environmental
How to Make and Use Compost: The Ultimate Guide, entered by TJ International

Exhibition Catalogues
Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man, entered by Royal Collection Publications

Photographic Books, Art/Architecture Monographs
Voice of the Vivarais, entered by et al Design Consultants

Trade Illustrated
Twiggy: A life in Photographs, entered by National Portrait Gallery

Lifestyle Illustrated
Rose Elliot's New Complete Vegetarian, entered by HarperCollins

Literature
The Changeling, entered by Atlantic Books

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education
The Fundamentals of Marketing, entered by AVA Publishing

Scholarly, Academic and Reference Books
Collins Flower Guide, entered by HarperCollins

Children's Trade
The Heart and the Bottle, entered by HarperCollins Children's Books

Best Jacket/Cover Design
The Flavour Thesaurus, entered by Grade Design

Best Student Book
An Anthology of Fairytales on the Theme of the Wicked Stepmother, entered by Louise Evans

Best British Book
Britain by Bike, entered by Anova Books

Book of the Year
Britain by Bike, entered by Anova Books