Swansea’s Award-Winning Artist Shortlisted For Small Business Award

Local small business AJ Illustration has been shortlisted as one of Britain’s most exciting small businesses.
Swansea-based illustrator Amy Jackson, founder of AJ Illustration, has been shortlisted in the At Your Service category at this year’s Small Awards.

Now in its tenth year The Small Awards is a nationwide search for the UK’s greatest small firms, across all sectors. It is organised annually by Small Business Britain, which champions and supports the nation’s 5.5 million small firms.

AJ Illustration, founded by award-winning Swansea artist Amy Jackson, is an independent creative business specialising in detailed hand-drawn dotwork illustrations. Through art prints, stickers and commissions, her work explores feminism, identity and socially driven visual storytelling. It has been selected as one of just eight finalists for the At Your Service award, recognising independent businesses that deliver exceptional customer experience through creativity, individuality and community connection. This category awards the best small service businesses in the UK, with a track record of serving their target customer set.

The Small Awards celebrate the successes of Britain’s small businesses, with eleven different awards for small firms leading the way across everything from sustainability to digital adoption, and showcasing all types of small businesses including social enterprises, family-owned businesses, sole traders and start-ups.

“We are so proud to be celebrating a decade of the Small Awards. The awards celebrate the very best of the UK’s small business owners, who make such a difference in their local communities and are a key driver of the nation’s economic growth,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

“The awards are a great opportunity to recognise the success and contributions of so many small businesses – AJ Illustration is extremely deserving of being a finalist, and we look forward to celebrating together in May.”
“Being shortlisted for a national Small Business Award means a huge amount to me, especially as an independent artist working in Swansea. Through AJ Illustration, I’ve tried to create artwork that not only feels visually striking, but also starts conversations around feminism, neurodivergence and lived experiences through illustration.” said Amy Jackson, founder of AJ Illustration.

Judged by a panel of industry experts, the winners of all categories, including the overall winner of the Small Business of the Year award, will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 21st May 2026.

The ceremony will this year be held at Christchurch in Spitalfields London, with plans underway for a night of entertainment, inspiration and celebration for the UK’s greatest small businesses.