Hello! I am Sally Bird (Mayhew), and I live and work in rural France, having moved here in 2007 with my husband and two young children. 

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I'm always happy to talk your project through with you. I specialise in nonfiction translation, with a focus on art history, academic papers (psychoanalysis, psychology, social sciences), and the voluntary sector. If your project is in a field that is outside my technical expertise, I will tell you!

Here's a brief summary of my qualifications and experience, with a full cv and references available upon request: 

* a postgraduate Diploma in Translation (French to English), from the Chartered Institute of Linguists, London. This is a highly regarded qualification that is equivalent to an MA.

* an honours degree from the University of Cambridge in History of Art, with a part one (the first two years of my degree) in French and Spanish.

* an MA in Modern British Art (distinction), from The Courtauld Institute of Art in London. 

* self-employed translator and nonfiction writer in France since 2011, working with numerous individuals, charities and businesses. You can find further details of my clients, and sample translations, on my Portfolio page.

* an approved translator for the not-for-profit organisation Translators Without Borders, for whom I deliver translations free of charge.

* self-published author of a series of dual-language books for young children, Tales from Couty, featuring the animals on my smallholding. These are available from www.couty.info. 

* an experienced teacher of French to the English and English to the French. I have a TEFL qualification, and have been teaching individuals and groups since 2011 as a complement to my translation work.

* councillor on the conseil municipal  of Badefols d'Ans between 2014-2020.

* in England, I worked at The National Gallery of Art; as Development Manager of an adoption and fostering agency; and finally, as Director of a regeneration charity in North West London at the age of 27. In this role I was responsible for the launch of the country’s first ‘Floating Classroom’, a groundbreaking project exploring the ecology and history of London’s canals with inner city children.