What do the winners win?

The winner of the Orange Prize for Fiction receives £30,000,and a limited edition bronze figurine called the 'Bessie' (both anonymously endowed).

Created by the artist Grizel Niven, the 7.5 inch figure of a standing woman is cast in bronze once a year and presented to the winning author, along with her cheque, at the Award Ceremony.

Grizel Niven

Grizel Niven, the elder sister of actor David Niven, was born in London and studied at the Chelsea Polytechnic under Henry Moore.

She exhibited in group exhibitions in the USA, Paris, Brussels, Australia and London, including the Hanover Gallery, Redfern Gallery, London Group, New Art Centre, The Royal Academy and Paris Salon.

She also worked commercially for films. Her work is found in private collections in the UK, Europe, USA and Australia. Grizel Niven died, aged 100, in January 2007.

Award for New Writers

The winner of the Orange Award for New Writers receives a £10,000 bursary (funded by Arts Council England) to help her pursue her work with greater freedom.