Sandra Keely was born in Dublin, Ireland.

She began her career in animation when she joined Sullivan Bluth studios in 1988. Her first work was as a Cel-painter on All Dogs Go to Heaven. She started drawing on Rock-A-Doodle, and further developed her skills on Thumbelina, A Troll in Central Park, and The Pebble and the Penguin.

In 1994 Sandra moved to the United States to be a Character animator on Anastasia, Bartok the Magnificent, and Titan AE at the Fox Animation Studios then located in Phoenix, Arizona.

After leaving Fox, she worked with Producer/ Director Don Bluth. Sandra taught animation at a local college, eventually resigning her teaching position to pursue a freelance painting career and to complete her Museum Studies degree.