Sheri Amsel’s been writing and illustrating books for seventeen years. Her life long interest in nature and the outdoors led to degrees in botany and zoology. Combining natural science with a love for illustration, Sheri went on for a master’s degree in anatomy and biomedical illustration with an internship at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. in scientific illustration.
Sheri’s work has included:
• Writing and illustrating nonfiction science and nature books for children and field guides for adults.
• School and library workshops — Sheri is funded by New York State Arts and education to do visiting author programming. She also visits other states by invitation.
• Outdoor education — Sheri conducts, by request, nature hikes to identify wildflowers and habitat exploration for adults and school children.
• Nature trail development — Sheri has helped create more than a dozen nature trails at schools, camps and outdoor education centers throughout the U.S.
• Educational murals for museums, outdoor education facilities and conference centers. Anyplace with “a big white space” that needs wild things depicted.
• Teaching college science — Sheri taught anatomy, physiology and biology at three colleges before “retiring” into her studio to work on books.
Recently Sheri purchased 30 acres of forest, wetland and river in the Adirondacks as an ongoing project to establish an educational nature trail. With grants and private funding she is developing a permanent wildlife preserve and educational nature trail for schools and outdoor enthusiasts. Sheri works out of her home studio in the Adirondack Mountains.