Sarah Longley was born in Belfast in 1975, daughter of internationally distinguished poet Michael Longley and academician Dr Edna Longley. She studied art at Manchester University and later, at Edinburgh College of Art. While at college she won a number of prizes for outstanding artistic merit and was awarded a first class honours B.A. in painting and drawing before going on to earn her masters degree in that field. She continues to reside and work in Edinburgh with regular visits to Ireland.