DEE BARRAGRY

Dee Barragry is an author, artist, and photographer with a rich multicultural background. Following a childhood spent in Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico, she brings a unique global perspective to her work. Now residing in Dublin, Dee blends her passions for art and narrative into enchanting children’s literature and expressive imagery.

In 2023, she won the inaugural Staróg Prize, a prestigious honour for Irish writers of children’s fiction, and secured a publishing deal with Walker Books.

Her debut middle-grade novel, The Moon Seeker, released in July 2025, is set in a whimsical world perched at the edge of the ocean. The story follows lighthouse keeper Lampwick and his loyal sheepdog, Humphrey, on a moonlit voyage across sea and sky to find the moon.

When she’s not weaving stories, Dee can be found with a paintbrush, book or camera in hand capturing moments through her lens. With a fondness for creatures both real and fantastical, her work reflects her deep appreciation for nature and the wonders of exploration.

Want to find out more about Dee's writing:

🌐 https://www.walker.co.uk/author/dee-barragry/

📸 Instagram: @deebarragry

Unless stated otherwise, all artwork and photos in this article: © Dee Barragry

How does the ocean inspire you art?

The ocean inspires my art both directly and indirectly. I appreciate it in tangible, visceral ways, by connecting with it through all the five senses, as well as through means less defined.

Its rhythms are a reminder that we too ebb and flow, and I love how its moods and intensities shift and change. It can be both striking and subtle. All these qualities make the ocean a companion and teacher, in addition to being a subject and muse.

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

My earliest memory of the ocean is from very early childhood in Kenmare, off the southwest coast of Ireland. I remember standing in cold wintry sunshine at the edge of the harbour and being fascinated by the wavelets nibbling at my boots, and noticing the saltiness of the air coming in off the Atlantic. It was a moment of enchantment, and that feeling for the ocean has remained with me ever since.

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

My new children's book “The Moon Seeker” is a comic fantasy caper set in a world full of mystery and magic. The story was heavily influenced by my love of the sea, something which I hope is palpable throughout.

Lampwick is the keeper of the lighthouse at the top of the world. When the moon disappears, he and his faithful sheepdog Humphrey must embark on a wild adventure to find it. A fearsome storm is brewing and lives are at stake. Journeying under the sea and across the skies, it will take wits, magic and the help of unexpected friends to return the moon to its home. And all in time for breakfast!

What can art bring to the conversation in marine protection?

I believe there is a need to engage both the heart and the mind in the conversation on marine protection. As a point of intersection between makers and audiences, art is a vast space in which to creatively consider, transmit and conjure emotions as well as ideas. When it comes to inspiring and sustaining climate action, I think empathy is a particularly powerful motivator. We tend to care best for who, and what, we care most about.

DEE BARRAGRY

How does the ocean inspire you art?

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

In your opinion, why is it important to protect marine spaces?

What can art bring to the conversation in marine protection?

"I believe there is a need to engage both the heart and the mind in the conversation on marine protection. As a point of intersection between makers and audiences, art is a vast space in which to creatively consider, transmit and conjure emotions as well as ideas."

DEE BARRAGRY

How does the ocean inspire you art?

Do you have a personal or first experience with the ocean that shaped your art?

Tell us about a particular piece of art you created that is inspired by the ocean

In your opinion, why is it important to protect marine spaces?

What can art bring to the conversation in marine protection?

"I believe there is a need to engage both the heart and the mind in the conversation on marine protection. As a point of intersection between makers and audiences, art is a vast space in which to creatively consider, transmit and conjure emotions as well as ideas."

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