When it comes to your dreams, it’s never too late to grab them with both hands says Melton artist Sarah Hewitt, who decided to indulge her passion for illustration and embark on a Masters degree a little later in life…
Ever since she was a girl, Sarah had enjoyed drawing and displayed an exceptional talent for art. However when she left school, life forced her in a very different direction. She took a job in a bank, before getting married and going on to have two exceptional children.
Her life changed course however, after her son was accepted into Oxford University. She accompanied him to a dinner and got chatting to a spirited 75-year-old there – an elderly lady who ignited her mind and opened her eyes to the old adage that ‘age really is just a number…’
“She told me that her children were going to put her in a home. But she put her foot down and said she wasn’t having that! She decided that she was going to go and do a degree instead, and so she was an undergraduate studying English at Oxford.
“She was living in digs with other students and loving it! She was living her best life and it made me think that maybe I could do that too,” revealed Sarah.
“That was a pivotal moment really. I was so inspired. So at the age of 46, I applied to do a Masters in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art.”
During her time at University, Sarah had many incredible experiences, which included attending lectures with Quentin Blake – the well-known illustrator behind many of Roald Dahl’s books.
Holding an original ‘Gruffalo’ illustration is another amazing memory from Sarah’s time at Cambridge, as well as sitting next to Axel Scheffler – the book’s German illustrator as he described his process.
“ What I learned at university transformed a hobby into a passion and set me on th”is wonderful path that I’m on today…
Since getting her Masters in 2013, Sarah has published six children’s books – one of which has won two awards. ‘The Sleeping Garden’ is the true story of the lost gardens of Heligan – how a beautiful Cornish garden fell into neglect and silence following the outbreak of the Great War and how, in 1990, it was rediscovered and eventually brought back to vibrant and abundant life.
Her most recent book ‘Anna’s Garden’ is inspired by her late daughter Beth, who passed away in 2019. The book has a neurodivergent lead and is inspired by the talented poet.
A detailed portrait of Beth, which Sarah completed in 2021 was nominated for the prestigious British Art Prize that same year. It’s an exquisite piece, which has a very special place in the artist’s heart.
“I really felt [Beth] on my shoulder the whole time I was drawing that. It was a way of getting really close to her. It captures her sunny personality perfectly,” she tells Pukaar.
Among the books on the horizon, is a book called ‘Beth Rainbow‘ which will be dedicated to Beth.
Her untimely death has made Sarah even more determined to embrace her passion for art – to make the most of life and add as much colour as possible.
“You need to follow your dreams. It’s never too late to retrain and do something you’re passionate about,” she said.
“When people of my generation were at school, the careers advice was so limited. I didn’t even know what a graphic designer was, or that careers using your creativity were even an option. But the world’s your oyster now, you can do whatever you want.
“You spend a huge amount of time at work, so you might as well enjoy it, and if you can love it, then that’s so important,” she added.
“I’m very lucky that my chance meeting with that wonderful lady in Oxford inspired me to take the plunge and grab my passion with both hands.”
To see more of Sarah’s work visit: www.booksbysarah.co.uk
By Louise Steel
