I am a Leeds-based writer, educator, activist, performer and creative writing facilitator who has collaborated with communities, individuals and artists since 2003.

Projects I am involved in usually have a social arts focus, whether this is my own writing or the health, education or vocational work I lead. I seek to support communities and individuals to value their voices – written and spoken – in ways that are meaningful and transformative for them and other beings. This means working with people to find out what they most want to do with words, helping them craft their work and bring it to an audience ­­– large or small.

Public commissions have included being resident poet for Morley Literature Festival and Altofts Lit Fest In a Day, an audio poem for The Cultural Institute and poetry displayed on umbrellas above Grassington market square. My poems have been named in prize lists such as the Women’s Poetry Competition, Ilkley Literature Festival Open Mic and the Forward Prize, and published by Seren, Mslexia, The North, Stand and Bloodaxe. I have a poetry pamphlet ‘Echolocation’ (now sold out) and collection ‘Empires of Clay’. I also write fiction and collaboratively for theatre such as Corseted, a 2016-17 show and exhibition about radical Leeds suffragist, Alice Cliff Scatcherd and Imove’s Haunt, a site-specific theatre project dealing with homelessness.

I’m looking to create lasting partnerships with producers and publishers who share similar values and are interested in developing vibrant, high-quality work that is as much about innovative process as product. Find out more at my website and drop me an email if you want to chat about working together on a project, residency or commission. I’d love to hear from you.