On Houses 

In May 2017 Rebel Sun poetry collection is out with Parthian Books. Here’s the artwork from Andy Garside, I’m so pleased with it. Below is an excerpt from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran that inspired elements of the work.

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#thirtydaysofBrexit

I’ve been working on a project over on Instagram for the past thirty days called #thirtydaysofBrexit. It began on the day of the referendum result as part of a desperate effort to try and understand what happened. I voted remain, everyone I know voted remain (aside from a couple of family members) so it came […]

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On living and working in Y Gogs

  I’ve had a number of interesting discussions recently about Welsh art in the context of how it’s perceived by, and in relation to, England. One of the points made was that there are so many artists (across all disciplines) who are well respected in Wales yet nobody has heard of, or is interested in, […]

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Empty

I’ve been wary of hurtling down mountains on the bike (an Orange5 Diva Pro) since getting a bit too feisty and badly wrenching my shoulder on the uplift at Cwmdown a couple of years ago. Since then I’ve found the sprint triathlon’s swim, bike, run more appealing – until this month.

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the making of things

I’m launching Hanes, a new poetry pamphlet, this week. It’s the culmination of around three year’s work and includes poems previously published in the likes of Dark Mountain, Poetry Wales and Tears in the Fence.

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Scaling the Dark Mountain – poems from the cliff face

How can we create meaning in our lives and art in a society unwilling or unable to avert the coming ecological catastrophe? Can connecting with our community alleviate this profound sense of loss and grief, offering purpose and a deep rootedness?

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Llefaru Unigol (the process of remembering)

Whenever the great cultural juggernaut of Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru rolls into Y Gogs I sign up for the solo recital (llefaru unigol) competition in the Maes D: dysgu Cymraeg. The reason for doing so is that, in addition to improving my Cymraeg, it offers a unique opportunity to fold open the creative process and map […]

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on community arts & education (part 2)

I’ve been blogging recently about working as a Writer, Community Arts Practitioner & Educator (in Y Gogs) and received a number of supportive and positive replies. The latest blog, a radical proposal for community arts and education also received a largely positive response but there was one element to the proposal that seemed to cause contention […]

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a radical proposal for community arts & education

Years ago during an interview with a local newspaper I gave my title as Community Poet. Afterwards a more experienced writer explained I shouldn’t use the word community because it’s twee and suggests the work is somehow less in comparison to hi-end-art. I’m still baffled by this. Community shapes everything. No artist is born, or […]

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the price of self-employment

I’m not sure how I imagined the journey when first setting out as a freelance/self-employed writer seven years ago. It’s been a difficult but ultimately rewarding expedition, especially considering the only thought was: forward and onward and don’t look back.

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