Are you sitting comfortably? Then, let’s begin…
Sarra was born to her mother, a writer and her father who was an engineer and musician. She grew up on the edge of a small hosiery town; spending her time weaving, sewing and cutting paper while growing trees, catching sticklebacks, watching frogs and learning about life, happily immersed in nature.
In the early 1980’s, her father returned home with a ZX Spectrum tucked underneath his arm, and together with her brother, Sarra spent many days copying basic code from the pages of the spectrum magazine (only to watch a border flash and a ball bounce across a TV screen).
She was an avid reader, and in reading Steven Jackson’s game books, she mastered the five finger page shuffle and learned how to handle a multi linear narrative. She also enjoyed playing early computer games such as The Hobbit. Sarra walked into town, and borrowing Tolkien’s book from the local library, she proceeded to draw maps and compile lists of action words to solve this epic adventure…but that is another story.
2009 Illustration Degree and D&AD Award
Joining Coventry University later on in life; Sarra gained a First Class BA Illustration degree and was awarded D&AD New Blood For Film Craft Animation.
2010 - 2015 Animation Industry
She went on to work with some exceptionally talented creatives in the animation industry, working on projects that were awarded British Animation Award, BAFTA and other prestigious nominations.
2010 - 2015 Teaching and Research
Sarra worked as a lecturer at a number of respected Universities, co-creating their first multi-disciplinary media elective module, tutoring undergraduate students at Coventry University on how to write and design an alternative thesis and delivering key note lectures on animation, at other Academies.
She also delivered research papers at Royal College of Art, University Southern California and Birmingham Institute of Art and Design on experimental immersive-interactive animation.
2019 MA Creative Application Development (Now Indie Game Development and Interaction Design).
Sarra was awarded Distinction for her Masters degree in Creative Application Development, spending time working in nature, conducting experimental research and producing immersive-interactive experiences using traditional materials and advanced technologies.
2021 NHS
Sarra joined NHS, working as an instructional designer at the beginning of the pandemic. She joined NHS immersive research group, NHS AI research group and Paramedic Ambulance Service research group. During this time, Sarra worked in her home studio experimenting with Cyanotype print making as a way to process work independently. .
Today
Sarra continues to push the boundaries of Cyanotype by combining hybrid digital and traditional processes that includes papercut, collage, digital layering, physical model making and virtual modelling, using immersive game engine development processes to work in real, digital and virtual spaces…
Seeding, rooting, growing and rambling… thriving in cracks between our natural and other virtual worlds; Sarra produces sensitive, thoughtfully illustrated and animated work in a distinctive cyanotype-cut style.
The work communicates issues around mental and physical health, science, advanced technology, feminist issues, politics and ecology; producing commissioned artwork for musicians, writers and editors…
All enquiries can be made by completing the contact form.
