In its second year - Somerset House once again plays host to some of the UK's finest and primarily emerging illustration and visual arts talent.

Last year I got into a mild spat with someone online - after declaring myself pretty underwhelmed by a fair chunk of the work exhibited. So it was with mixed expectations that I rocked up this time, already wording diplomatic, balanced arguments in my head to justify a lacklustre response. I was pleasantly surprised - and was pleased to be able to stop digging deep into my vocabulary for fence-sitting pleasantries.

The first display - a selection of 24 up-and-coming graphic artists - makes for an impressive and very filling first course. The strikingly graphic works of Kate Moross are a bold start then onto other highlights including my favourite work from the whole fair from Revenge Is Sweet. Their work pushes all my buttons in the right directions. Lovely stuff. Character based works from the talented Frenchman McBess and striking pieces from Jules Julien are next to impress.

Kate Moross

Revenge Is Sweet

McBess

Nobrow's hi-tech gear!

Halfway along this first floor - and in the same spot as last year - Nobrow hold court with their oasis of printed goodies. I picked up a copy of their latest Nobrow issue 5 (I think their best yet) and fought the urge to spend more money than I could afford before moving on.

Nobrow

Jules Julien

Occasionly there are artists and websites you see where the work on show is so desirable that you try not to look too often to avoid having quiet words with your bank manager. Jessica Hische is one of those artists. Okay - so it's typography - but it's so damn beautiful it deserves to be hung left right and centre. Her decorated alphabet pieces are stunning - and I want the whole lot. A pleasure to see her in the show.

Then onto MVM's impressive pieces - in their trademark chunky, heavy lined style followed by a childhood blast from the past in the way of ..er.. Fuzzy Felts! If Fuzzy Felts mean nothing to you - then think shapes cut out of felt - that then stick to each other via their "fuzziness". Takeru Toyokura's work is pretty much just that - with added use of card, paper and some pretty surreal, dark overtones. Interesting stuff.

Jessica Hische

MVM

Takeru Toyokura

Next up was Stefanie Posavec - with an interesting visual representation of Kerouac's "On The Road" - broken down into themes, loctions etc. A beautiful piece of work - prompting me to discover her work with Microsoft research to represent Darwin's "The Origin of Species" - amongst other things. Stunning stuff - and well worth a look. Heading upstairs I popped into see Print Club - who had their people looking busy pulling some prints - and a selection of works on show. A few favourites included the ever awesome SuzieWright and Margaux Carpentier.

Stefanie Posavec

Print Club crew in action.

Print Club

A quick dash across the top floor - via the likes of Anthony Burrill's fanzine workshop - through Jaguar Shoes and Nous Vous - none of which is really my cup of tea I'm afraid to say - stopping off at Puck, who had a few cool bits and pieces - and ending on Evening Tweed - who's solid design aesthetic and tight, clean works always tick the right boxes. Quirky, well thought through and beautifully executed stuff. Their work is... well... the equivalent of a well cut, hand brushed, authentic tweed jacket. A good note to end on.

Puck - complete with hangover.

Evening Tweed

All in all a great show and a marked improvement on last year. On till March the 27th and definitely worth a visit so get yourselves down there. Yann Brien and Deer.Wolf.Wolf will be printing with Print Club - so check the timetables and drop by and say hello. You can check out all the photos on our Flickr pages.