Sandra Morris
After graduating in 1975 with a BFA from Elam School of Fine Arts, Sandra worked as an art editor and illustrator on the School Journals and Maori language journals for School Publications in Wellington for four years.
She gained her MFA at Elam in 1990 where she completed her first picture book One Lonely Kakapo- this won her the Russell Clark award for illustration in 1992.
In 1992 she moved to Dunedin to write and illustrate Discovering New Zealand Birds, which was a finalist in both the Aim Children’s Book Awards and the Non Fiction LIANZA awards.
In 1995 Sandra gained a PG Diploma in Plant and Wildlife illustration from the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. While in Australia Sandra developed a love for sketching plants and wildlife outdoors and has continued with this, travelling to some amazing places such as the Subantarctic , Tasmania, Western Australia, the Cook Islands, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Her more recent sketching has developed into nature journaling and she runs workshops on this for adults and children throughout the country.
From 1996 -2003 Sandra worked as a designer for Shortland Publications where she was responsible for the design of early reading books and for recruiting and encouraging new illustrators. After a trip to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2001, where she met many international illustrators and publishers, Sandra started up Sandra Morris Illustration Agency promoting NZ illustrators locally and overseas- she now has over 60 illustrators in her team - some of them award winners.
Sandra was a senior tutor for 5 years at Massey University College of Creative Arts in Albany. In 2006 she co-won Lecturer of the Year Award for the Design Department.
Sandra’s book Sensational Survivors was published by Walker Books in October 2010 and was a finalist in the 2011 NZ Post Childrens Book Awards and the 2011 LIANZA awards.
Her book A New Zealand Nature Journal published by Walker Books was released in 2014 and was a finalist in the 2015 LIANZA non fiction awards, The NZ Post Book Awards for non fiction and the Winner of the Riverby Award for Science Books for children, USA
Sandra’s latest book North and South-the story of two hemispheres, published by Walker Books, contrasts, month-by-month, some of the world’s most-loved Northern and Southern Hemisphere animals. North and South marks a beautiful and engaging introduction to the natural world and conservation.
A keen supporter of community education, Sandra taught for many years at Auckland University Continuing Education and currently at Selwyn Community Education in Auckland and Community Education Whanganui. Sandra is a member of the Botanical Art Society of NZ and the Botanical Art Society of America.