SWINDON College has something to celebrate as one of its graduates has been nominated for a prestigious literary award.

Steve Antony, 38,who studied for an HND in illustration at the college, is shortlisted in the best illustrated book category at the Waterstones Children’s Book Awards 2015, it was announced today.

He is nominated for his debut picture book, The Queen’s Hat – a tale of a whirlwind journey around London, celebrating what it means to be British.

The book is illustrated in blue, red, black and white to convey the British theme.

The former call-centre worker will battle it out against five other books in his category, with the winner receiving £2,000 and an expected boost in sales.

Recognition by Waterstones in the awards caps an amazing year for the writer-illustrator who has seen his work appear in The Times, nominated for coveted awards and even go on-sale in the United States.

Steve’s achievements as a writer-illustrator are particularly impressive given that he is colour-blind and finds it difficult to distinguish between red and green.

His meteoric rise to the toast of the children’s literary world hasn’t been easy. Born in England and raised in New Mexico, Steve returned to the UK to study a Higher National Diploma in Illustration at Swindon College.

After graduating, he spent nine years in a call centre before being made redundant in 2010.

He made the decision to follow his dreams and studied for a Masters in children’s book illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, which he completed in 2013.

A book deal with publishing giant Hodder followed and the Queen’s Hat released in May last year received critical acclaim.

Now in its 11th year, the Waterstones Children’s book prize champions new and emerging talent in three categories – illustrated, fiction for ages 5-12 and teen books.

Winners will be announced at an evening reception at Waterstones flagship store in London Piccadilly on March 26. The overall Children’s book of the year winner wins an extra £3,000.

Steve worked as a student support worker at Swindon College after completing his HND.

His former team-leader, Lynn Eyles, said: “Steve was a fantastic support worker, he was brilliant with all the learners.

“We were very sad to see him go but we knew he was leaving to pursue his chosen career as a children’s book illustrator, in which he has done amazingly well.”