Sally Nansen
Sally Nansen is a writer, illustrator and book creator whose narrative work is rooted in ecological, social and publishing histories. Her Art Book imprint, Morris & Company Press, presents her own narratives and illustrations with her book designs influenced by early publishing styles. Art Books by Sally Nansen have featured in the Melbourne Art Book Fair (National Gallery of Victoria) 2022 and 2023.
In 2018 Sally was commissioned by Collingwood College to work with Wurundjeri Elders to create a narrative work about river flat Country Yallabirrang (Collingwood), the impact of dispossession, and the history of the school, resulting in a 40 metre long illustrative artwork accompanied by a written narrative.
Sally’s writing has been awarded by the National Trust of Victoria, the Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation and national and local short story prizes. It has also been published in Australian Womankind magazine. Her writing includes fiction, non-fiction, essay and a form of fairy tale or fable.
Her latest narrative and Art Book, The Birds - A Fairy Tale was published in 2023 by Morris & Company Press.
Life in, and connection to, Hobsons Bay
Sally lives in Spotswood and works from her home studio in an 1890’s former farmhouse. Her lyrical essay and Art Book, Once the Singing Trees (2016) describes her search for historical meaning in place and home and refers to the forest of she oak trees that once grew in the area originally known as Koort-Boork-Boork (Hobsons Bay). In 2010 Sally won the Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize at the Williamstown Literary Festival for her story Winter’s Sleep.
Works
- 2023 The Birds - A Fairy Tale, Morris & Company Press
- 2020 Remembering History
- The Australian Womankind Magazine # 23
- 2019 The Kitchen Tales, Morris & Company Press
- 2018 The Yallabirrang Learning Story Fence Narrative
- Collingwood College
- 2016 Once the Singing Trees
- Building Bridges: 2016 Reconciliation Writing Competition, pp. 58-62
- 2016 Once the Singing Trees
- Morris & Company Press
- Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation
- 2015 What the Mirror Saw
- The Australian Womankind Magazine # 5, pp. 122-123
- 2013 A House Speaks
- Stories from the Iron Houses: Shortlisted Stories from the Short-Story Writing Competition, pp. 1-9
- National Trust of Victoria
- 2010 Winter’s Sleep
- Beyond Words: The Ada Cambridge Prize for biographical short story writing, pp. 3-9
- Williamstown Literary Festival
Awards
2017 Shortlisted
- Apollo Bay Writer’s Festival Short Story Award
- The Tale of Maudie Taylor
2016 Highly Commended
- Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation Writing Competition
- Once the Singing Trees
2013 Winner
- National Trust of Victoria Short Story Prize
- A House Speaks
2010 Winner
- The Ada Cambridge Biographical Prose Prize
- Winter’s Sleep
2010 Shortlisted
- The Alan Marshall Short Story Award
- The Colours of Mrs A. Daloney