This is the winner of last year's competition

Adam Whinham

Cleveland College of Art & Design

Theme: Sustainable relationships
Medium: Mixed media

This illustration represents sustainable relationships. The salt and pepper idea came from the longstanding relationship they share on dining tables across Britain. The interpretation of sustainable relationships I made was not of the relationship of two things that continuously sustain, as that is not how relationships in business work. I chose to use something that represents the input that businesses put into their customers. Just as the consumer has to input salt and pepper back into the shakers. It is a symbiotic relationship that businesses have with their customers, which I have tried to represent with my concept. To achieve the illustration I used a range of techniques: collage, painting and using an ink roller. Together these effects create an illustration that clearly communicates salt and pepper, which in turn communicates sustainable relationships.

Ben Hughes

Cleveland College of Art & Design

Theme: Growth / Cultivation
Medium: Ink on paper

The central focus of my work is buildings, arranged to demonstrate the growth of a city, sprawling outwards to meet and adapt to the developing needs of its inhabitants. The city moves in an organic formation, developing outwards, like a fluid material, continuously morphing in shape and dynamics. The individual buildings have a sense of unity, they appear to conform, created by a consistency in line and tone, yet the central, dominant image is a skyscraper, reaching upward, striving to achieve and having an imposing presence over its neighbours. The focal aspect, a sense and symbol of power and strength.

Emily Larter

Nottingham Trent University

Theme: Leading the Way
Medium: Paper, Fabric, Print & Pen

The idea is based around the phrase 'following in other people's shoes'. The shoes are used as a symbolic message for leading the way and Lloyds as a company always being one step ahead of their competitors. Shoes are a subject matter that everyone can relate to and can ultimately link the viewer to the piece. It is a collage that has been developed through a series of mixed media such as paper, fabric, print and embroidery. It has a sophisticated yet fun colour palette with the use of soft colours and simple patterns. Colour is one of the crucial points connecting the series and the repetition of the shoes

Emma O’Connell

Crawford College of Art & Design - Cork

Theme: Working together
Medium: Acrylic & collage

My piece highlights the theme of 'working together'. In my work I portray people in ordinary situations in their daily life. I like looking at people in shared environments and the connection between them. In this piece I looked at the office as the environment and the place where you interact with other people, while the act of work is the unity. In my painting the people are divided but the environment is the same carrying through the three pieces. The people are working together in the shared environment while their personalities are shown through their interests. Despite these differences they a still united and working together as a team, with a shared objective.

Edna MacNally

National College of Art & Design - Dublin

Theme: Leading the way
Medium: Pencil on wood

Answering the chosen brief 'Leading the way', I have used a simple image of a girl looking ahead to the light, with which to represent leadership, ambition and innovation. I have used a limited colour range to give this image a greater immediate visual impact. To be ahead of the game in any field requires imagination and innovative thinking- here symbolised by the light ahead. einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge," and he was right- to see past the structures that already exist and to imagine how to improve them; leading the way for others is a more difficult path to tread, but one which is ultimately more rewarding.

Evelin Kasikov

Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design

Theme: International expertise
Medium: Embroidery on paper

World – unity through diversity. This work is centred on the theme of international expertise. Financial growth and international solutions are based on clear strategy and careful planning. Order and structure are central to this topic. I approached this topic through revealing the diverse and complex inner structure of a printed image. every single element in this structure is important as meaning is created through associations between them. Similarly, international banking can be perceived as a global network of microstructures. Seen from the distance the word "world" becomes visible – as a reference to Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance's extensive worldwide experience. I used handmade techniques to reflect the personal approach within the global theme and show that international solutions are also based on local knowledge.

Heather Wood

Grays School of Art

Theme: Flexibility
Medium: Acrylic Paint

When considering my theme of flexibility, I wanted to create an image which reflected the way in which people can manipulate themselves in order to achieve adaptation in different circumstances. By using the image of contortionists and keeping it to a solid white figure, it stands out amongst the black background and further emphasising the neon paint which has been applied in a Jackson Pollock-style of 'dripping' and 'swirling'. The same contortionist figure has been multiplied and placed in different compositions in the piece, which gives a further development on the idea of flexibility as the images give a sense of movement. The neon paint represents the flexible ideas and support that Lloyds TSB has to offer.

Josh Field

Bath Spa University

Theme: Working together/support
Medium: Ink pen, pencil and colouring crayons.

To answer this brief I felt it was important that my image demonstrated the key statements you identified. I have depicted partnership and teamwork by showing a group of mice working together to scare off a cat. If a mouse was alone it would not survive an encounter with a cat, but as part of a team the mouse and its colleagues become formidable. This partnership between the mice is clearly a positive relationship because when the mouse acts as part of a group, rather than as an individual, the mouse and his allies can feel secure, and do not have to fear the cat. I also hoped my image portrayed the benefits of working as a group. I wanted to show that teamwork often results in better solutions and can quickly solve people's problems. The brief talked about 'providing clients with the right financial solution for their growing business needs'. I hoped that my 'mouse monster' symbolized a solution to growing needs.

Katie Ramsdale

Cleveland College of Art & Design

Theme: Working together
Medium: Ink and pastel on paper

My work depicts a vibrant cityscape, made up of strong, rectangular buildings, slotted together like building blocks to symbolise how working together can achieve great things. The buildings stand tall and strong in the centre of the composition, creating a feeling of structure and unity, against a dark, velvet back drop of the night sky. The buildings, although static, are alive with energy and noise, captured by the introduction of accents of neon colours, bringing the image to life and creating dynamic impact within the image.

Leo Philp

Grays School of Art

Theme: International Expertise
Medium: Oil paint collage, and ink on wood

To respond to the theme of "International expertise", I chose to reflect how it affords the opportunity to combine radically different creative philosophies, and tools to deliver innovative solutions to exacting problems. I chose to represent this by showing a traditional oriental icon, chop sticks, being used to repair a western device. I drew on woodblock imagery and style, combining it with printed digital elements, and screen printing techniques to reinforce the theme.

Lucy Howarth

University of Salford

Theme: Grow Together
Medium: Black pen on paper

The illustration communicates the idea of the city and nature coming together and growing together. In this piece, TSB are represented by the plants and the trees and are shown to be watching over the city and working closely with them to create something beautiful.

Mary McCaffrey

University of Ulster

Theme: Leading the way
Medium: Oil on canvas

I chose the theme 'leading the way' and my painting reflects my son, Sean's journey in life. Sean's energy and dynamism has always informed my practice. I am highlighting in my work moments in time which will never reoccur. On one of our frequent walks along the River Lagan, Sean, on discovering a sheet of paper lying on the ground, decided to make a paper boat, which he placed in the water. As Sean had now left his mark on the river, I photographed the incident which I knew would be the inspiration for a painting. There are elements of this painting that reflect the qualities represented by Commercial Finance Ireland. Just as Sean, left his mark on this river and gave it a beautiful paper boat, Commercial Finance Ireland can leave their mark on a clients business and give it something to thrive on.

Mathew Williams

Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design

Theme: Working Together/Support & flexibility
Medium: Pencils on pastel paper

I decided to investigate 'Working together/Support' and 'Flexibility' and started exploring Dance as a subject which expresses perfectly what the words are trying to communicate. Dancers, in particular ballerinas, are known to be strong, flexible and graceful, which translate as desirable qualities in a bank. I refined my brief to just 'Support' and looked at situations within dance that visualise support. I looked at contemporary ballet for my chosen piece, referencing the ballet Carmina Burana. I feel that Lloyds need a contemporary image with classic elements as that is how I see Lloyds as a brand. The image itself has a contemporary feel due to the use of space and composition, whilst being visually interesting and on brief.

Phillippa Walter

Glamorgan Center of Art & Design

Theme: Growth/Leading the way
Medium: Oil on canvas

I chose to use the theme of leading the way and growth, I thought of all the cliché idea's of the pied piper of Hamelin, but remembered that this would be putting across a deceiving message so I went through a long thought process and eventually came up with the idea of an overgrown dandelion being blown in the wind, with people catching on to the dandelion seeds and floating off together. I always found my shadow to be amusing when my body looked like a triangle and my legs elongated, so I decided to make my characters look amusing and attractive to not only adults but youngsters too. Against all convenience I used oils to paint the piece as it always seems soft and gentle compared to acrylics which dry fast and have a harsh affect.

Phillip Ward

University of Derby

Theme: Flexibility
Medium: Digital with hand drawn elements

Based on the element of time, I wanted to show Lloyds flexibility by focusing on a world without time. When it comes to bank services such as loans and mortgages, we, the consumer, are always pressured by the clock. My idea portrays that with the help of Lloyds, clients can remove and alter the pressure of time based around their financial obligations.

I wanted to show a team of people working together, using tools and teamwork to remove the hands of a clock from their world.

Rosemary Knowles

Birmingham City University

Theme: Growth/Cultivation
Medium: Gouache, biro, image transfer, Photoshop

At first growth and cultivation made me think of nature, plants and trees; and even cultivation of the land. However, I thought that Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance should have a more powerful image. So, I went back to the source of growth in the world; light and water. Light induces growth and acts as guidance in many instances. Water, especially the sea, has tremendous power and life giving qualities. My final illustration depicts how even modest companies, represented by the paper boat, can reach great heights with Commercial Finance. The wave grows and grows, carrying the client towards the sky; and the light, powerfully parting the clouds, can guide the little boat through any storm it may face along the way. With Lloyds TSB Commercial finance businesses can ride the wave to success!

Samantha Brennan

Cleveland College of Art & Design

Theme: Growth
Medium: Mixed media

For this competition I interpreted the word "growth", using a pearl within an oyster. This concept relates to growth and cultivation, as the pearl grows within the oyster. The pearl is different because it grows from something that is of little worth, (a grain of sand) into something that is valuable. The oyster helps the pearl to grow and nurtures it, this relates to Lloyds TSB nurturing other companies to grow from something small into something which is very valuable and rare. I have used acrylic paint on canvas to create the image, I made the oyster open and the pearl look very valuable and rare, as it is a rare blue pearl. I used metallic silver paint to make the pearl look more appealing, and mixed sand with paint to create the textured effect of the rocks and the coral and painted over it on the seabed..

Samantha Dunn

Cleveland College of Art & Design

Theme: International Expertise
Medium: Acrylic paint

I chose to develop the phrase 'International expertise'. I wanted to create something quite abstract but at the same time, have a very bold and purposeful meaning. The message of the Chameleon is a simple one; it represents the bank being able to adapt to the ever changing international markets. The Chameleon is a creature which is theoretically known to change colour to suit its environment and therefore works really well. This is an idea that I wanted to create as I feel it is appealing both visually and conceptually. The flag background in which the Chameleon is situated has been created with paint to give it a different texture to the skin. The actual Chameleon itself is hand drawn to give it a more organic and personal touch. Overall I feel I have created a very original and suitable image that fits the brief and will work successfully for Lloyds TSB.

Thom Whyte

Grays School of Art

Theme: Working Together
Medium: Mixed Media

This is the final outcome after picking a theme and a media. A classic portrayal of team work, drawn with permanent ink and layered with an illustrated background.

Zanny Mellor

University of the West of England

Theme: Working Together
Medium: Coloured inks

In 'Working Together' I became fascinated by using cubes and pattern to create block pyramids in order to indicate a sense of collaborative achievement. I was unsure of the colour but attempted to create an idea of depth and distance using different warm tones.