UNDISCOVERED VOICES INTERVIEWS Sally Walker

To conclude our Illustration showcases for the SCBWI anthology Undiscovered Voices, we present Suffolk based print-maker Sally Walker, who chose the legend of Pandora's box.

Tell us about yourself in 50 words or less.

Hi I’m Sally, an illustrator and printmaker based in Suffolk.

I went back to university in 2015 to study a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art. My illustrations begin through playful printmaking, creating textures and monoprints, then incorporating pencil and ink/paint before colouring and composing digitally.

Who or what do you think informs your illustration the most?

My children and their world of play is the biggest influence on my work. Taking them to swimming lessons, soft play, etc… and taking the opportunity to observe them. Listening to their conversations and watching their interactions with other children. I’ll often go home afterwards and draw/write from recalled memory and where possible I’ll do some observational drawings on the spot.

What materials do you enjoy using the most?

Etching ink is one of my favourite mediums; I use it for collographs and monoprints. It’s so rich and can produce multiple different textures. But I couldn’t be without my Blackwing Pearl pencils, everything starts with those!

Why did you choose the scene you illustrated for UV2018?

After seeing the UV2018 brief I researched a few different myths and legends and Pandora’s Box was instantly visual to me. I love graphic novels and felt it could be composed into a one-page sequence to tell the whole story. As I don’t have much time being a working mum, I tried not to overthink it so I could spend more time experimenting with the artwork.

If there was one thing that stood out the most about being a part of UV2018, what would it be?

It was really valuable to have feedback on my portfolio as part of UV2018. This gave me confidence in the direction my work was going after graduating from my MA. On top of this I met some lovely illustrators (and writers), we came away and decided to set up our own Facebook group to be able to support each other in our mutual goals.

What has been the most valuable part of UV2018 for you?

I think having support and encouragement from fellow creatives is so important during the ups and downs of this journey!

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Sally's website is sallywalkerillustration.com
Instagram: @sallywalkerillustration
Twitter: @MrsWalker_Draws

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Undiscovered Voices is an anthology published every other year by the British SCBWI and aims to help fresh, new voices in children’s literature – both writers and illustrators – find agents, publishers and ultimately readers. Undiscovered Voices has launched the careers of writers and illustrators, who have gone on to publish more than 200 books. These authors have been nominated for, and won, an amazing array of literary prizes: including the Carnegie Medal, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Branford Boase Award, Blue Peter Award, the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award, and nearly 30 regional awards. Visit Undiscovered Voices for all the details and news when submissions will open for the next anthology.

You can download the Undiscovered Voices 2018 anthology here.