HOLLY STERLING
Lecturer – BA (Hons) Illustration for Commercial Application
Qualifications:
BA (Hons) Illustration and Design – First Class Honours
MFA in Illustration with Distinction
Holly is a children’s author and illustrator, with a mixed heritage of white English and Jamaican descent. Her work reflects her personal experiences, particularly with a focus on positive representation, which has become a hallmark of her artwork.
Her author-illustrator debut with Walker Books, ‘Karate Kids’, was also shortlisted for The Telegraph Sports Book of the Year Award in 2021. Following its success, she released ‘Ballet Kids’, the second book in the series, which earned a spot on the 2024 ALA Rainbow Book List, and was highlighted in the 2023 CLPE Reflecting Realities Survey as a good example.
Holly has had the honour of being nominated for the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal and won the Seven Stories National Nursery Rhyme Illustration Competition. She received a high commendation for the Macmillan Prize, and her work has been included in The Independent’s Top 12 Books of the Year. Furthermore, her books have been featured in the EmpathyLab’s ‘Read for Empathy’ list and the ‘Summer Reading Challenge’, showcasing her commitment to creating works that resonate with and educate young readers.
In addition to her creative career, Holly is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of illustrators. She has served as a mentor for the ‘Pathways Into Children’s Publishing’ programme during its 2019-2021 and 2023-2024 intakes. This programme is particularly focused on providing opportunities for individuals from underrepresented and marginalised backgrounds, reflecting Holly’s own values and commitment to diversity in children’s publishing.
Research Interests & Projects/ Professional Activity / Publications/ Awards / Exhibitions / Media Coverage:
Publication – Wednesday Is for Wiggling
Author – Eva Wong Nava
Illustrator – Holly Sterling
Pub date – 5th June 2025
With lively text and charming illustrations, this sweetly observed story introduces children to the days of the week, and shares a positive experience of growing up with separated parents.
“A tender tale to help little ones master the days of the week—and find a way to savour each one.” Kirkus Reviews
Whether it’s wiggling on her cosy Wednesday with Mama, visiting the library with her childminder on Thursday, making origami cranes with her grandparents on Saturday or scooting in the park with Daddy on Sunday, this little girl cherishes the time she spends with all her caregivers.
Through the eyes of a creative and curious child, this is an uplifting look at the familiarity and anticipation of a daily routine and spending time with all the special people who take care of children.
Exhibition – Northern Illustrators: Draw me a Story
Date – 12th October 2024
Venue – Globe Arts Studios, Huddersfield
Draw me a Story is an exhibition showcasing the talent of six children’s book illustrators living in the north of England. It celebrates the diversity of styles, mediums and processes used to create published works for children’s literature, from picture books to graphic novels.
Links
https://www.hollysterling.co.uk
Email: