Sarah Whittaker - Designer
Specialist book cover designer with over a decade's experience across a range of bestselling fiction and non-fiction.
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Overview
I'm a graphic designer and illustrator working across a range of genres and styles, from first-time authors to big established names. I also work with major publishers including Penguin Random House, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Little, Brown Book Group, Orion Publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, and more. Prior to going freelance I was Senior Designer at Transworld (Penguin Random House).
I approach each design in an individual and considered way. My goal is always for the cover to connect your book to your would-be readers, whether the result is highly decorative or boldly minimalist.
Services
Non-Fiction
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits
History
Nature
Fiction
Fantasy
Historical Fiction
Humor & Comedy
Literary Fiction
Young Adult
Work experience
Freelance book designer, illustrator and art director
Self-employed
January, 2018
–
Present
(about 5 years)
Senior Designer
Transworld (Penguin Random House)
November, 2008
–
January, 2018
(about 9 years)
Started as a Junior and worked my way up.
Portfolio (16 selected works)
Once Upon a River: A Novel
Diane Setterfield
From the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “eerie and fascinating” (USA TODAY) The Thirteenth Tale comes a “swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful” (Madeline Miller, internationally bestselling author of Circe) novel about how we explain the world to ourselves, ourselves to others, and the meaning of our lives in a universe that remains impenetrably mysterious.On a dark... read more
Work Like a Woman
Mary Portas
Work Like A Woman explains why the way we work now is in desperate need of change, how you can campaign to help make this happen and why we will all – men and women – profit from this. Women today are working in a man’s culture - and it’s holding us back. In Work Like A Woman, Mary Portas examines the world of employment, how it works against women and what needs to change, as she tells the st... read more
‘This book was laugh-out-loud hilarious and give-me-a-box-of-tissues heartbreaking. I loved it so much!... I literally went back and reread some parts a few times just because they were so funny! It’s a beautiful story and I’m sure it’ll stick with me.’ Tales of a Bookbound Mum, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The must-read book of 2019! Equal parts heartwarming and heartbreaking, fans of Jojo Moyes, Eleanor Oliphant Is... read more
The Unmumsy Mom
Sarah Turner
THIS IS NOT A PARENTING MANUAL. THIS IS REAL LIFE. The Unmumsy Mum writes candidly about motherhood like it really is: the messy, maddening, hilarious reality, how there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and how it is sometimes absolutely fine to not know what you are doing. The lessons she's learnt while grappling with two small boys – from birth to teething, 3am night feeds to toddler tantr... read more
The Unmumsy Mum Diary
Sarah Turner
She's back! The Unmumsy Mum has put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard!) once more to bring you the next instalment of her life as mum to two young boys, documenting motherhood exactly as she finds it. Her words have made mums, dads and grandparents everywhere laugh and cry in equal measure. In The Unmumsy Mum Diary Sarah shares with us a year in her life as a mum, wife, blogger and best... read more
The Unmumsy Mum A-Z - An Inexpert Guide to Parenting
The Unmumsy Mum
___________________________From the Sunday Times No 1 Bestselling AuthorFrom bestselling author and massively popular blogger The Unmumsy Mum comes this hilarious, irreverent and searingly candid compendium of parenting experiences. With entries including D is for Desperation, F is for Fish Fingers, S is for Supermum and V is for Vagina, it's safe to say this is not your average A-Z.This book ... read more
The Labour MP for Rhondda presents a lucid account of how Parliament evolved between 1801 and the end of the Thatcher era. He describes changes that included the exclusion of the landed aristocracy from the Commons, diminishing power of the Crown, the strengthening of Parliament's control of government, and votes for working men and women; he also reveals the character of parliamentary change ... read more
The Things We Thought We Knew
Mahsuda Snaith
Ten years ago, two girls’ lives changed forever.Now one of them is ready to tell their story.***'A quirky lovable mystery and a brilliant, heartbreaking debut' Stylist'A new face of fiction [and] an original coming of age novel' Observer***The first memory I have of you is all knickers and legs. You had flipped yourself into a handstand and couldn’t get back down. We became best friends, racin... read more
Falling
Julie Cohen
Can you imagine keeping a secret so devastating, you couldn’t even tell the people you love?Honor’s secret threatens to rob her of the independence she’s guarded ferociously for eighty years.Jo’s secret could smash apart the ‘normal’ family life she’s fought so hard to build.Lydia’s could bring her love - or the loss of everything that matters to her.Grandmother, mother and daughter – three wo... read more
The Shoemaker and his Daughter
Conor O'Clery
'O'Clery takes us into the hidden heart of Soviet Russia... An arresting and evocative story.' Keggie Carew, author of Dadland'A tour de force ... Love, politics, murder, wars, and the fracturing of ties, personal and ethnic. O'Clery is a gifted writer.' Luke Harding, bestselling author of CollusionThe Soviet Union, 1962. Gifted shoemaker Stanislav Suvorov is imprisoned for five years. His cri... read more
'Radical history at its best'Owen Jones ‘A proudly partisan history’Mary Beard ‘Annoying and readable in equal measure’Jacob Rees-Mogg Exploring the extraordinary social and political dominance enjoyed by the British aristocracy over the centuries, Entitled seeks to explain how a tiny number of noble families rose to such a position in the first place. It reveals the often nefarious means they... read more
‘I absolutely loved this... I couldn’t put it down, grabbing every opportunity to continue... Heart-wrenchingly sad but... also one of the most uplifting and heartwarming books... It had me crying (and I mean big heaving sobs!!)... I finished this book last night, and yet here I am 24 hours later still thinking about it!... Fabulous, amazing, wonderful!!’ Stardust Reviews, 5 starsSometimes you... read more
"She stood and took her place in front of the camera… It was now or never.”Bryony Masters has been looking for her long-lost sister, Hannah, for years. So when primetime game show What Happens in France calls for new contestants, she spots the ultimate public platform to track down the reality TV-obsessed Hannah, and finally reunite their family.Accompanied by handsome teammate Lewis, Bryony s... read more
CURIOUS BIRD LOVERS HANDBO (REI)
Edworthy, Niall
Sarah has 6 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
I hired Sarah because I fell in love with her gorgeous illustrations and her work for me did not disappoint! She was generous in her samples and produced a beautiful cover. I am so happy I went with Sarah, the quality of her work can't be beat.
Emily Kelly, July 2022
Reply from Sarah Whittaker
Sarah produced the cover for our historical fiction novel, and has done an incredible job. Sarah has been professional, punctual and a pleasure to work with throughout the process. Sarah's work has been of the highest standard. She was able to take the brief and deliver a tremendous cover that exceeded expectations, but was true to the spirit of the novel. I look forward to continuing to work w...
Read more
Mark L, February 2021
Reply from Sarah Whittaker
Sarah is a fantastic designer and it was a pleasure working with her. She is efficient, insightful and creative. Her eye is sophisticated, and she takes time to listen to you as her client. It was a seamless experience, and I would recommend her to anyone commissioning a book cover. Her experience with leading publishing houses was obvious at every stage, but worn lightly. Thank you, Sarah.
Annie Friedlein, January 2021
Reply from Sarah Whittaker
Sarah is a talented and attentive professional. She combined my ideas for my book's cover with her artistic vision, and the result was a beautiful, creative, and provocative design. I appreciate her attention to detail and responsive to my feedback, and I would highly recommend working with her. Thanks, Sarah, for creating a cover that's perfect for my novel!
Kelsey Sather, September 2020
I loved working with Sarah. She's so creative and amazing at interpreting the brief. And the results are stunning. I'd recommend her without hesitation.
Tim Tucker, May 2020
Reply from Sarah Whittaker
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Guilhem Bedos
Graduate in applied arts. Freelance graphic designer and illustrator since 1998. Worked at/for Nike, IKEA, Ubisoft, Catalyst Games Lab.
Montpellier, France
Laura Boyle
An expert designer with over 10 years' experience and a very personable approach. I won't stop until you are thrilled with your design!
Toronto, ON, Canada
