2012 has been another outstanding year for illustration. Read our pick of the most popular features, projects and exhibitions from the past 12 months below.

Master retro collage illustration

Collage is making a comeback and as Alice Ross discovers, today’s artists are taking it in exciting new directions

Children's illustration grows up

The best creators are leaving saccharine clichés and simplistic figures far behind in an effort to captivate today's younger audience, finds Alice Ross

See rejected work by Rob Ryan, Sagmeister, Marion Deuchars and more

Students put on exhibition celebrating work unwanted by clients or abandoned by its creators.

Exhibition to show artworks drawn and built on beermats

Inkygoodness invited illustrators and artists to create a character using a mat as a canvas.

Artists create portraits of each other to raise money for the National Autistic Society

On show are a works by illustrators including Pomme Chan, Sandra Diekmann, Miss Led, Tim McDonagh, Harriet Seed and Holly Wales.

Jessica Hische, Anthony Burrill, David Shrigley and more create posters from Florence + the Machine lyrics

Seven artists and illustrators have created posters for MSN's Facebook competition.

RoSPA exhibition shows vintage safety poster designs

A showcase of classic warning posters from the 1930s to the 70s.

London Transport Museum showcases illustrations of 'Secret London'

This year's exhibition and competition reveals a hidden side to Britain's capital.

Exhibition brings together Jonathan Yeo's portraits of Nicole Kidman, Erin O'Connor & more

Some People collects ten of Yeo's favourite subjects, produced using a variety of media and printing techniques.