Ms Sophie Beer

Illustrator and Author

During her years at Brisbane State High School, Sophie Beer was a self-professed "nerdy bookish child", which she believes aided her in the long run. Through her participation in debating, Sophie became interested in world issues around mental health, same sex marriage and copious other prevalent conversations later depicted in her illustrating career. Sophie credits State High for this, as she wouldn't have been as interested or aware without this extra-curricular opportunity.

After graduating, Sophie pursued a Bachelor of Law and Literature at QUT. However, she became less interested in law and while she was really keen to focus on literature, her professors persuaded her that this avenue held no viable career options. Feeling lost, she began drawing as a coping strategy. Never did Sophie dream this passion would become her full-blown creative career! Over the years, Sophie has designed with bright bold boisterous colours for women's magazine, Frankie, represented Australia for a Google Advertisement, aided Headspace with "Tips for a Healthy Headspace", 7/11's Slurpies and many children's illustrated novel covers. Sophie's hard work and dedication to her passion has resulted in a Penguin Random House Portfolio Award in 2016 and a nomination in the Australian Book Designers Association for her book, Love Makes A Family, and her cover of The Peacock Detectives.

Sophie's aspirations for illustrating and writing her books are, most importantly, to portray a message because kids might not have these important conversations anywhere else. Her children's activist books spread awareness on love, family, environmental issues, kindness and feminism. While researching her current project for the British Museum, she has been made aware of the numerous awe-inspiring diversity of Australian women. Sophie's advice is, "Start doing it now!", with the "it" in question being one's passion, hobbies one hasn't yet picked up, or a career choice, because they just might all intertwine to create new opportunities.

Written by Lucille Bennett*