I grew up in Northumberland, on the banks of the River Till. I’ve lived in many places, from the Hebrides to Italy, and I’ve collected – or created – stories in every place. I’m a wanderer, but my roads always seem to bring me back to the areas where I was born, and I now live back in North Northumberland, in a book-filled, ramshackle cottage, surrounded by old orchards and madcap animals.
I began telling traditional stories for audiences in 2017, but before that I did a BA in History and an MA in Writing for Young People, and, alongside and in-between, spent more than a decade working in teaching and creative practition with young people.
My inspiration comes from a deep sense of place, and my storytelling and research explore the relationship between people and landscape, and the ways in which they shape each other.
What do I do?
I tell traditional stories and legends for audiences of all ages. My stories have a particular focus on Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, although some come from further afield.
I also explore and research the deeper links between history, folklore, people, and landscape, something you can now discover at the new Bryneich Studio of Northumbrian Folklore and Storytelling in Northumberland.
To me, storytelling is a craft, like other traditional arts, to be shared, learned, developed and taught. I offer workshops, for both adults and young people, in making and telling stories, to pass on the skills I’ve learnt from others.
Spindrift Stories 