Hi I’m Sarah,
I’m over 40,
A mum,
A dyslexic
and I have ‘really big hands for a girl’
These are definitely my super-strengths.
I’m also a highly creative Art Director with 19 years experience in integrated advertising.
If you’d like to chat about work or shake (large) hands in person. Please get in touch.
CV
Sarah Stretton - Creative Art Director
I think that’s the title I earn being slightly more ‘pictures’ than ‘words’. But I love writing headlines and straplines as much as visually distilling a brand or an ad. I also love being involved in strategy - finding the truth behind the brand and helping to craft a unique, solid, proposition makes me extremely happy.
What am I good at?
Understanding a brief
Understanding a brand
Understanding a client
Taking direction
Giving direction
Team work
Solo work
Connecting two or more seemingly unrelated worlds and creating new, surprisingly lovely stuff.
Catch Phrase
What am I not good at?
Spelling
Proof-reading
Spelling
A chron-illogical path:
Creative consultant - Marsh & Parsons 2014-Present
Stretton Creative Consultancy. Direct to client.
Creative direction / writing / art direction
Oliver - Dec 2022
Freelance art director, working with senior copywriter, working on concepts for Beyond Meat.
Creative territories / art direction
Havas Helia - July/ August 2022
Solo freelance creative working on concepts for a new product launch for GWR.
Creative territories / writing / art direction
Creative Comeback London - June 2022
Creative Comeback sets the standard for global talent regeneration - working with creatives to bring them back into work after career breaks. A Creative Equals programme with Diageo, D&AD and partner agencies - Prime Video, Wunderman Thompson, Engine, Fishawack, Shoot the Moon, Pablo, VMLY&R
and We Are Social.
A world-class course and creative pitch process. This was an invaluable experience which concluded in a pitch win for Guinness to Diagio at D&AD.
Creative partner at FROM Ltd. 2011-2021
FROM was a shop. A local shop on a high street in Oxfordshire. We created the brand, renovated a rather sad space and opened the doors to the community, selling locally-made and designed pieces.
Store concept / Branding / Project management / Store design / Campaign management / Visual merchandising and good old-fashioned customer service
Multi-tasking 2013 - present
Motherhood and all this brings, combined with freelance creative work for a range of clients on branding and advertising projects.
TVF - Healthcare communications agency
VPRIV
Stretton Creative Consultancy -
Creative positioning, rebranding, art direction
Little Italy Espresso Bar -
Direct to Client - Creative positioning, writing and art direction
Sony Professional -
Stretton Creative Consultancy -
Art direction Story-boarding
Freelance Creative - Norsk Cafe and lifestyle store -
Direct to Client - Creative positioning, writing and art direction
Freelance Creative - Marylebone Denim -
Direct to Client - Branding, art direction
Freelance Creative - STAY. Short stay lettings
Direct to Client -
Rebrand and creative positioning
Freelance Creative
Bigger Splash
Biaggio the Jewellers -
Branding for a new product launch. - Must Have Diamonds, creative platform.
Bloomsbury Home -
Branding and creative positioning
Senior Art Director
Archibald Ingall Stretton 2003- 2011
Fully integrated creative work over 8 years. OOH, TV, Direct, Mobile.
O2
Skoda
Scope
BMW
EDF Energy
Moet Hennessy
WRAP - Love Food Hate Waste
Wrap - Recycling
AOL - My Daily
UIA Insurance
1st Class BA Hons Graphic Design & Advertising - Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College - 2000-2003
Awards:
The Drum Awards // 2021 // Highly Commended // Out of Home (MARSH & PARSONS)
DMA 2019 // Bronze // Best Integrated (MARSH & PARSONS)
The Drum Awards // 2019 // Best Local Campaign (MARSH & PARSONS)
Creativepool Awards // 2018 // Bronze // Photography (MARSH & PARSONS)
UK Property Awards // 2018 // Best Estate Agency Marketing (MARSH & PARSONS)
International Property Awards // 2018 // Best Estate Agency Marketing (MARSH & PARSONS)
London Magazine Club Awards // 2018 // Advertising Campaign of the Year (MARSH & PARSONS)
The Negotiator Awards // 2017 // Silver // Marketing campaign of the year (MARSH & PARSONS)
AOP 2017 // Best in Advertising single image (MARSH & PARSONS)
UK Property Awards // 2017 // London’s Best Estate Agency Marketing (MARSH & PARSONS)
London Magazine Club Award // 2017 // Best Advertising Campaign (MARSH & PARSONS)
The Times & The Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year Awards 2016 // Bronze Award for Best Marketing (MARSH & PARSONS)
The Times & The Sunday Times Estate Agency of the Year Awards 2015 // Gold Award for Best Marketing (MARSH & PARSONS)
DMA 2010 // Silver // Art Direction (SKODA)
DMA 2010 // Gold // Automotive (SKODA)
DMA 2010 // Gold // Best Online Display Advertising (SKODA)
Chip Shop Awards 2009 // Chip // Packaging/Point of Sale (WRAP)
LIA 2006 // Finalist // Copywriting
Campaign Press 2006 // Finalist (SKODA)
Campaign // Faces To Watch 2005
Creative Circle // Photographic (SCOPE)
DMA 2005 // Gold // Copywriting (SCOPE)
Precision Marketing 2004 // Young Team of the Year
Precision Marketing 2004 // Bronze // Direct Mail (SKODA)