VOICES

A collection of illustrated poems to encourage and inspire.

In the Wilderness (1)

In the Wilderness (2)

When Jesus is in the House

Voices from the Heart

My Research

ABOUT

the poet

I am a retired teacher and headteacher with a lifelong passion for creativity, learning and storytelling. I spent many years nurturing creativity in the children I had the privilege of teaching in England, China and South Korea. This body of work reflects my love of imagination, storytelling and artistic expression.

I began writing poetry in 1992, but life soon took me in other directions so I set my pen aside for many years. In 2023 I returned to writing, drawing inspiration from the women of the Old Testament. The result is a unique collection of illustrated poems exploring strength, courage, faith and agency in fresh and imaginative ways through the lives and stories, not only of these women, but also of others who have since spoken into my life. I hope to bring ancient stories closer, uncover the humanity within them and create space for reflection and connection as the stories are retold through a creative and contemporary lens.

Image of a notebook with blank pages on top of which is resting a bottle of ink and a fountain pen

ABOUT

the collection

Image of a lone camel wandering in a wilderness.

This body of work ‘VOICES’ is a collection of poems and illustrations inspired by the voices of many people.

‘Voices in the Wilderness’ is written from the perspectives of forty remarkable women in the Old Testament, imagining their fears, courage, faith and longing - voices remembered, overlooked, silenced, searching, grieving and hopeful.

'Voices when Jesus is in the House’ explores the voices of those whose lives were changed when Jesus stepped across the threshold of their homes - ordinary people meeting the extraordinary in moments of tenderness, conflict, healing and revelation.

'Voices from the Heart' - these poems are not drawn from voices found in the Bible, but from the quiet voices within my own heart as I observe God's world. They arise from moments of observation and reflection as I seek to give expression to the emotions that shape our human journey. Each poem invites you to pause and reflect on the world God has made.

In my poems I explore faith, humanity, struggle and hope through the timeless stories that continue to speak into our lives today. This is a gathering place for these voices. Each illustrated poem has grown from my desire to inspire reflection, creativity and new connections.