About Me

I’m Sarah Ward — an award-winning freelance Art Director and Creative Lead specialising in film and television marketing campaigns, key art and entertainment publicity.

With over 20 years’ experience across the UK and international media landscape, I work with broadcasters, streaming platforms, production companies and creative agencies to shape and lead distinctive, audience-focused campaigns. From early creative development through to final delivery, I help translate strong content into visually compelling, strategically aligned marketing across print, digital, OOH and social.

My background spans editorial design, international TV marketing and in-house broadcast creative. I began my career on leading consumer titles including Esquire, GQ, Cosmopolitan and InStyle, where I developed a strong foundation in visual storytelling, typography and brand voice — skills that continue to inform my approach to entertainment marketing.

I moved into international television marketing at BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide), leading the creative development and art direction of global stills campaigns for flagship titles including Sherlock, Human Planet and Frozen Planet. My role combined campaign concepting, key art development, photography direction, stakeholder management and international toolkit delivery — ensuring creative consistency across multiple territories and platforms.

At BBC Creative, the BBC’s in-house agency, I developed integrated 360° campaigns across television and radio. I wrote and shaped creative briefs, led visual strategy, commissioned and directed shoots, collaborated with designers and writers, and worked closely with marketing teams to ensure campaigns were cohesive, distinctive and on-brand. I also managed high-profile premieres and live event publicity photography, balancing creative ambition with logistical precision.

Since returning to freelance in 2018, I’ve partnered with UK and international broadcasters and agencies to deliver publicity campaigns, key art, streaming launch campaigns and marketing creative. While I’m particularly experienced in photography-led campaigns, my role is broader: shaping visual identity, leading creative direction, guiding teams and ensuring that every asset — from hero artwork to social cut-downs — works as part of a unified campaign narrative.

I’m known for calm leadership, collaborative working and an ability to move confidently between concept development, on-set direction and final execution. Above all, I bring strategic thinking and creative clarity to projects that need to cut through in a competitive entertainment landscape.

If you’re looking for a senior freelance Art Director to lead or support film and television marketing campaigns — from early concept through to launch — I’d be delighted to collaborate.

 
 

Awards

2023 – Promax BRONZE: Best Lead Visual (Inside Man)
2018 – Promax GOLD: Best Key Art (Requiem)
2016/17 – listed in Lürzer’s International Archive – 200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide (Strange & Norrell)
2015 – Promax shortlist: Best content or long form (BBC Music: God Only Knows)
2014 – Promax shortlist: Best launch campaign (Sochi Winter Olympics)