Princess Charleston of the Isle of Palms by Kelly Sheehy DeGroot

I think the UAE is a great place for art because people are thirsty for this kind of creativity.

Why did you choose the UAE to pursue your love of illustration? After that, I’ve been getting live drawing gigs very often. Surprisingly I wasn’t stressed and everyone around me faded away. I realized I wanted to draw live for a living and I always wondered if I would be good at it, so I tried doing it for free for charity and was hooked on the buzz and energy of the event. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do but I always loved fashion illustration so I created my website and posted my work online. My job was quite frustrating, predictable and very routine so I craved creativity. I worked in a bridal boutique as a textile designer until 2012. Some of the installations were really controversial and shocking so they were great eye openers for me and it was a great way to broaden the mind. I have great memories of visiting art galleries and museums around the UK in college and this was really inspirational- just observing all the different styles categories and installations. I went to art college in Edinburgh where I studied a variety of subjects within the art umbrella and that was really useful. The outfits are very bold, youthful and current from the latest runway shows and it’s interesting using these elements and putting them into a scene artistically in a way that tells a story.Ĭan you tell us how you came to be an illustrator?

The cover is very luxe and fashion editorial inspired. What can you tell us about the concept you have created for this month’s cover of A&E? Here, she talks us through the design and the world of illustration in the region. Sara envisioned the travel theme of this month’s A&E in our elegant cover illustration. Her illustrations have been published in a children’s book, “Princess Charleston and the Isle of Palms” by American based author Kelly Sheehy DeGroot, as well as a book named “More Barsetshire Diary” by British author Lord David Prosser. Sara has also been shortlisted and won many awards in the region. She regularly displays her artworks in exhibitions, online galleries and art cafes in Dubai and has been a finalist for the Young Designer Award at the Swarovski Bridal Show in 2007. Sara specialises in fashion illustration but also works on other artistic projects such as children’s books and storyboard illustration, book covers, editorial, traditional painting commissions, children’s wall murals, comic strips as well as live painting for fashion events and parties.

Princess Charleston of the Isle of Palms by Kelly Sheehy DeGroot