Picture copyright © Toby Glanville
	Click here to expand photo

Sara Fanelli was born in Florence in 1969. Her American mother was an art historian, and her father taught history of architecture. She studied for a Diploma di Maturita at the Liceo Classico Michelangelo before coming to England to continue her education. She completed a City and Guilds Foundation Course Diploma at London Art School and a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Art before going on to study for an MA in Illustration at the Royal College of Art, London.

Sara has completed a number of commissions. She has provided illustrations for the New York Times, the Times Educational Supplement, Tatler, the Independent on Sunday and the Radio Times, amongst others. Her clients include Ford, BBC Worldwide, National Westminster Bank and Nickelodeon.
She appreciates Italy's history and slower and more relaxed lifestyle, but believes London offers better stimulus, contemporary art and music. The ephemera, old books and stationery she picks up are used in the collages that often feature in her books.

Sara was born on the day that man landed on the Moon. Later she remembers being taken outside by her mother to look at the Moon when she couldn't sleep. Her early fascination has remained into adulthood. Bubu, her pet dog in childhood, appears in many of her books.

Still a young artist, Sara has already developed a hugely successful career. She has received The Macmillan Prize for a Children's Book and numerous other awards.

On her work

'I do a lot of drawing from reality. I like to travel and I always keep a sketchbook. I put aside all these ideas until I need them. I use the bits and pieces I have collected to create texture and interest; things that hopefully will invite you back for a second or third reading.'

'I might use a piece of paper, perhaps one with curious stains or marks on it, or a sweet wrapper or a piece of my Grandmother's writing – a shopping list for example. I enjoy printmaking, particularly etching, and sometimes I'll cut up the prints and use them in my collages. Every object has a story behind it to be relayed or reinvented. Handwriting in an unexpected context is very evocative. I create the different textures in my work by sprinkling the surface with things like sugar, lentils, spaghetti and rice.'

'I like to experiment. When I make a collage illustration I start with a drawing of the composition, the layout. Then I play around with it, interweaving it with all the different items I might be using. I like to play around with the typography too and create my own lettering. I don't use a computer to create artwork. Too many designers rely on them.'

See the entry for Sara Fanelli on ContemporaryWriters.com

See details of books in print from enCompassCulture.com

External links

Sara Fanelli's website