My name is Sally Symes. I am a freelance children's book author, designer and illustrator with over 25 years experience. My clients include: Walker Children's Books, What on Earth Publishing, Britannica Books, Nosy Crow, Harper Collins and Frances Lincoln.

I've written and designed over 50 books for children and my collaborations with Nick Sharratt have won many awards including The Educational Writers’ Award for The Gooey, Chewy Rumble Plop Book and The Southampton Favourite Book to Share Award for Something Beginning With Blue. One of our Finger Wiggle Series, Look at Me was recently chosen to be part of BookTrust's BookStart packs. (Bookstart gives a free book pack to every baby born in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.)

I worked for many years as a designer of children’s books before turning my skills to writing them too. I was Senior Editor at Campbell Children’s Books (Pan Macmillan) for many years and have an excellent understanding of the children’s publishing market. I write fiction and non-fiction for ages 0-10 years.
For writing and illustration work, please contact Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates

I can manage book projects from concept to print and can also create mechanisms and simple pop-ups for novelty books.
For art direction, design and/or project management, please contact Sally Symes

I live in a lively village in West Sussex and love running, swimming, cycling and singing with my local choir. I work from a shed at the bottom of my garden accompanied by my grumpy cat.