About

Sarah Allen is a visual artist, author, and illustrator dedicated to celebrating Australian wildlife. Her best-selling children’s books, Busy Beaks, Jumping Joeys, and Incredible Insects, bring Australia’s unique species to life with engaging storytelling and scientific accuracy. Through her art, illustration and murals, Sarah is on a mission to inspire curiosity and foster a deep love for nature among all ages.

Books

Author-illustrated titles

• Ingenious Insects, Sarah Allen, author-illustrator, June 2024, Affirm Press.

• Jumping Joeys, Sarah Allen, author-illustrator, October 2021, Affirm Press.

  • Notable list, Book of the Year - Early Childhood 2022, Children’s Book Council of Australia.

• Busy Beaks, Sarah Allen, author-illustrator, September 2020, Affirm Press.

  • Winner, Best Designed Children’s Non-Fiction Book, Australian Book Design Awards.

  • Shortlisted, Book of the Year - Early Childhood 2021, Children’s Book Council of Australia.

Illustrated titles

• Nosy Lion, Anna Milbourne, August 2021, Usborne Publishing 

• Little Lift and Look Bugs, Anna Milbourne, April 2020, Usborne Publishing 

• Are You There, Little Unicorn?, Sam Taplin, February 2019, Usborne Publishing

• Little Lift and Look Garden, Anna Milbourne, March 2019, Usborne Publishing

• Origami Dinosaurs, March 2017, Usborne Publishing

• Origami Animals, September 2016, Usborne Publishing

Public art commissions

• Children’s library installation, City of Melbourne, City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, August 2024

• Outdoor Bird Gallery collaboration with Myrtleford Mosaic Trail, Ovens River, Myrtleford, 2024

• Dinosaur Bird, Metro Tunnel Creative Program, Scott Alley, Melbourne, August 2022

• Threatened Species of Parramatta River, Epping West Primary School, Sydney, May 2022

• Beaks of the Bay, Woods Street Arts Space, Laverton, Hobsons Bay City Council, January 2022

Murals

• Songbirds, Songbird Early Childhood Centre, Briar Hill, August 2024

• Newport Lakes Birdlife, Hobsons Bay City Council, South Kingsville, June 2024

• Bird Count, Deer Park North Primary School, Deer Park, December 2021

• Hello Hakea mural, City of Maribyrnong, West Footscray, April 2019

See Mural and public art portfolio

Art residencies

• 2023, City of Melbourne, Shop 54 residency, Creative Spaces

• 2021, Creative Workers in Schools Program, Regional Arts Victoria

• 2021, Falls Creek Artist in Residence Program

• 2019, ArtsBox, City of Maribrynong

Exhibitions

‘Beaks of the Bay’, Laneway Gallery, Laverton, 1 November 2021 to 3 January 2022.

Celebrating Australian Birds, solo show, The Boroughs Store, East Brunswick, December 2019.

Education

Make Art That Sells online classes taught by Lilla Rogers, 2015 - 2020
Post Graduate Diploma Internet and Web Technology, RMIT, 2000
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts), Ballarat University, 1995

Art classes

Memberships

• Children’s Book Council of Australia (Victorian Branch)

• Australian Society of Authors

• Invertebrates Australia

• Birdlife Australia

• Team Kowari