Sophie McCallum

I studied art at Camberwell in the early 1990s, including a year in Surface and Textile Design, and went on to investigate Maths and Philosophy at Durham University.

Having worked extensively in conservation, both at home and abroad, I completed a degree at the Open University in 2015 in Environmental Studies and Creative Writing, whilst working 4 days a week in horticulture.

I have since published two illustrated books - Worlds' Most Endangered with New Holland, published in the UK, US, NZ and Australia. Also Rare British Breeds with Pen and Sword in 2019.

I was lucky enough to have 2 pictures exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery in London in 2019 and have been offered an exhibition at the Montserrat Gallery in New York. This work, alongside my botanical oils are shown on my website, SophieMcCallum.org

The Secret Life of an Arable Field, also with Pen and Sword is due to be published in November 2021. Amberley Publishing are producing Bonnie Geordie, which is the name the pit-men used to give to my self-made industrialist ancestor, Sir George Elliot.

In 2020 I gained a contract for two additional books. Pen and Sword asked me to write a nostalgic book of farming in the 1950s and Aurora Metro have given me a contract for The Contemporary Art Directory.

Prior to this, I spent 20 years writing the social and healthcare autobiography, Silk Purses and Pigs' Ears, comprising of the following short stories: Battle of Wits, Brave Squaw, Cocktails at Dawn, The Psychic Revolution, Truth or Die, The Continued Attempted Manslaughter of Sophie McCallum, Honour before Justice and the Butterfly and the Chrysalis; some of which achieved national and international recognition.