Sara Fandrey: an illustrator that embraces the beauty of imperfection

Sara Fandrey is an Italian children’s book illustrator based in Portugal. She discovered her passion for picture books while studying at the Children’s Book Academy Ars in Fabula and, in 2025, was a finalist for the “Livio Sossi” Editorial Illustration Award. Working in both traditional and digital media, she creates whimsical characters in soft, vintage-inspired palettes. When not illustrating, she’s often reading to her two children - or running after them.

What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?

If I have to pick just one, I would say my little fancy bee with her white hat and red shoes, surrounded by leaves and flowers. I painted it in my sketchbook with gouache, collage, some pastels, and a tiny bit of digital. I left in all the “mistakes,” trying to let go of my urge to fix every line. It gives me exactly what I’ve been aiming at for years: textures, fun, colours, looseness, and did I mention textures?

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

I would say picture books. My favourite is the Brambly Hedge collection, the first books I remember as a child. They’re like Jane Austen (my all-time favourite writer) but with mice in clothes and endless little details. So vintage, so atmospheric. I also buy lots of books by illustrators I admire, partly to support them, but also because their work inspires me to try new techniques and perspectives. And sometimes even just words, or a mix of words, spark an idea.

Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.

Probably authenticity and finding your own voice. With AI taking so much space, I think it’s fundamental to be as human as possible in our art. That’s why I’m working more with traditional media; cutting paper, touching materials, experimenting, making mistakes. That’s something machines can’t do, and I share this online hoping to inspire others too.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

I don’t know if it sets me apart, but people often say my work feels whimsical. I can’t say exactly what makes it so, but maybe that’s the thing that makes it mine.

If you have done paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for (up to now)?

I haven’t taken on many commissions, but in the past few months publishers have told me it’s my characters that draw them in.

How would you describe your style?

Vintage, whimsical, ironic, full of textures and little details. At least, that’s what I try to achieve.

Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it.

I love Wimmelbuchs, especially the All Around Bustletown series by Rotraut Susanne Berner. My kids and I still curl up with them, looking at every little house and character across the seasons. They’ve become “our” books. To illustrate a series like that, one we could read together, would be so special.

Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?

At the moment I’m busy with client work, but I always have ideas. One I’ve been dreaming about for years is the Vegetable Garden Elves, tiny elves with fruit and veggie hats, funny clothes and big personalities. There’s a little seed of a story growing in my head. I think it’s so important to get children outside, planting, watering, playing with dirt—maybe these little characters could help with that.

Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would that be?

I love Jane Austen, though there are already beautiful books about her. I also adore David Attenborough, his life with nature, animals, science, and his advocacy for the planet. It would be such an honour to turn his story into pictures.

If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.