Sarah Dyer is a picture book maker and illustrator living in Hove on the South Coast with her husband and three children.
Hi, I’m Sarah
I graduated from Kingston with a BA in Illustration & Animation in 2001 and my first book Five Little Fiends won several awards and was translated into 10 languages.
I embarked, without really meaning to, into a full blown picture book career. I’ve loved working for some great publishers, writing and illustrating nine more picture books for Bloomsbury, Frances Lincoln, Otter Barry Books & Tate, and a series of non-fiction books for Templar.
After having my third child in 2018 I felt very lost creatively. I wasn’t feeling like I wanted to dive back into my picture book career. I needed time to not only rediscover me again - but also the creative side of me.
Taking a break from my career felt scary at first, but since filling sketchbook after sketchbook on location, life drawing and drawing on line with friends I feel I’ve found my visual voice again.
I was worried my new way of working wasn’t going to be liked, but it hasn’t been the case. I’ve just finished a dream job illustrating adult fiction for Folio Society - the book is released in May….until then I have to keep the title a secret!
I was a 2020 winner for the illustrators exhibition for Bologna Book Fair which gave me a creative boost, and I’ve been working hard on new picture book ideas.
MY BOOKS
Discover my published children’s book titles…
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· Five Little Fiends, Bloomsbury 2001
· Clementine and Mungo, Bloomsbury 2004
· Princess for a Day, Bloomsbury 2007
· Mrs Muffly’s Monster, Frances Lincoln 2008
· The Girl with the Birds Nest Hair, Bloomsbury 2009
· Monster Day at Work, Frances Lincoln 2010
· Batty, Frances Lincoln 2011
· Bear’s Best Friend, Bloomsbury 2013
· Monster Baby, 2017 Otter Barry Books
· Double Trouble, Tate Publishing 2019
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· Book of Things, Templar 2014
· Book of Colours, Templar 2015
· Book of Shapes, Templar 2016
· Book of Opposites, Templar 2016
EVENTS, SCHOOLS, FESTIVALS ETC.
In between writing and illustrating I attend festivals and schools to carry out events and drawing workshops including: Hay Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Shrewsbury Festival, Hay Festival & Edinburgh International Book festival.
I was also part of Pop Up's programmes (a non non-profit national literature agency) for many years, visiting schools and educational spaces to deliver drawing and reading workshops. In 2016 I was part of Pop Up's Creative Professional Development alongside the wonderful poet Andrew McMillan delivering at first to teachers in schools and then in 2018 developing the programme to work across 4 days in Arvon and Totleigh Barton. The CPD programme aimed to encourage teachers to be inspired to write and draw for their own satisfaction as well as develop strategies that inspire pupils. Andrew is now a good friend and often delivers writing workshops on my Patreon.
TEACHING
I have taught up to MA level for 20 years. I have also mentored for students on Pop Ups Pathways Into Children’s Publishing programme in 2021. I was an external examiner for Middlesex University from 2017-2022
Currently I am teaching one day a week on the Foundation Course at Kingston University which I absolutely love.
In 2021 I set up a Patreon so I could share my practice as an illustrator and artist, but also use my teaching skills to encourage others to enjoy drawing and find their own visual language.