Lucy Steeds has been revealed as the winner of the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025 for her debut novel, The Artist. The announcement was made during an evening ceremony held at the Waterstones flagship store in London’s Piccadilly.
Inside the Story of The Artist
Set in the sweltering heat of a 1920s summer, The Artist follows an ambitious young British journalist, a mysterious and domineering painter, and the painter’s otherworldly niece. The novel builds tension between the three characters as their relationships evolve, ultimately leading to a powerful and dramatic conclusion.
The Artist offers an evocative portrait of place, desire, and ambition. With richly drawn prose, it captures the intensity of heat, colour, and atmosphere, pushing the boundaries of what fiction can evoke on the page.
About the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize
The Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize includes a £5,000 award and a long-term commitment to supporting the winner’s literary career. Previous winner Ferdia Lennon, author of Glorious Exploits, experienced significant success after receiving the prize in 2024. The recognition helped launch his novel into bestseller lists and broadened his readership across the UK and beyond.
The Rise of Lucy Steeds
Originally from North London, Lucy Steeds began writing The Artist while living in France. She currently divides her time between London and Amsterdam. She studied at the Faber Academy, the London Library Emerging Writers Programme, and earned degrees in English Literature and World Literatures from the University of Oxford.
Inspiration Behind The Artist
Speaking about her creative process, Lucy Steeds shared two key inspirations for the novel.
“My inspirations were twofold: firstly, I was fascinated by the concept of Art Monsters. These tyrannical figures who act abominably to the people around them in order to create great art. I was less interested in the art we’ve gained from these monsters, and more interested in the art we’ve lost. What could have been created if these tyrants weren’t crushing everyone around them? Secondly, how much colour, texture, smell, and taste was it possible to convey on a page? How intensely could I evoke heat? Was it possible to create a painting using words instead of a brush? I wanted to write a book that felt alive.”
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