I am a writer, teacher and creative writing facilitator. I have been teaching for nearly 25 years, in schools, university and community settings.
My writing is often on the theme of nature. I also study wellbeing and the desire to write.
My debut poetry pamphlet, As if we Were the Trees was published in 2015, and my poems have been published in lots of places, including: Diamond Twigg, Appletree Writers, Blackbough Poetry, Re-side, Peeking Cat and Lunar Poetry.
My writing was included in the ‘100 Faces, 100 Stories’ installation in Newcastle, I have read my work as part of the Appletree Writers showcase at the Edinburgh festival, and I performed at an international poetry reading in Montelone, Italy. I have also performed my work in such varied places as a mining institute, a theatre, a coffee shop, a pub and a laundrette. In 2019 I performed on the metro train concourse in Newcastle for National Poetry Day.
I have recently submitted my PhD, titled ‘Writing Nature: An Exploration of the Benefits of Writing in Response to Spending Time in Nature’. My thesis included a collection of 75 poems, a sample of which you can view on this site.
I am now looking forward to new writing adventures.
When I am not writing or teaching creative writing you can usually find me outdoors. I love walking, climbing and swimming, and am passionate about the natural world.
Creative Writing and Other Endeavours 