The Not-Dead and the Saved

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for a poignant, thought-provoking story by Kate Clanchy about parental love and sacrifice in a hospital ward. The Not-Dead and The Saved has been awarded this year's V.S. Pritchett Memorial Prize and the BBC National Short Story Award.

Clanchy's story has been praised for its "rich lyricism" and "deeply affecting style ... an account of a deeply painful experience" that becomes "richer on every re-reading." Critics were impressed by its "acute control of emotional tone and by the vividness and generosity of the writing." Listen to Penelope Wilton reading the story here.

Kate Clanchy was born in Glasgow in 1965 and educated in Edinburgh and Oxford. She currently lives in Oxford where she now works as a teacher, journalist and freelance writer.

Art direction by David Killen.

Push

Chicago magazine commissioned this artwork for a diary page called Push: One Chicagoan's 40-week Stumble into Fatherhood. It's a portrait of the writer and his wife, whose pregnant dreams play out like Bunuel films on three hits of acid. House-sitting a talking cockatoo, rabbit and dog, swimming in green Jell-O . . .

Art direction by Kim Thornton.

Taming the banks

Adair Turner, chairman of the FSA, answers a group of leading financial analysts in this month's Prospect magazine, calling for greater vigilance from big investors, global agreements that regulate financial insiders and a recalibration of moral values for the world's biggest industry.

Art direction: David Killen; inspiration: Gustav Moreau.

Haunted

Prospect magazine commissioned this illustration for Haunted, a memoir by Kamran Nazeer. His best friend Ben killed himself but then continued to make appearances. Kamran doesn't believe in ghosts or life after death, but he wants Ben to go.

Art direction by David Killen.

Don't Panic!

Poker Player magazine commissioned this portrait of columnist Nick Wealthall (in the style of Lance-Corporal Jones) about the importance of keeping calm under pressure. Against all odds Nick holds up the six clubs for a winning straight.