
POETRY
SUSSEX PRAIRIE GARDEN - Photo by Marianne Majerus
POETRY FROM MY RESIDENCY AT SUSSEX PRAIRIE GARDEN

The images below of my paintings and poetry were taken directly from my book Reflections on Being Human in These Difficult Times
I was artist and poet in residence at Sussex Prairie Garden for the year of 2021 and these paintings and poems formed the main part of my exhibition there.
My father passed away three years ago, and the exhibition and prose charted my journey navigating this loss and responding to the ensuing pandemic and lockdown. Prior to my father’s death, I had always painted with ease. However, as I struggled to come to terms with his passing, I found I lost my desire to paint, and even more so once the pandemic struck.
As you can see from images on this website, my garden backs right onto beautiful local woodland. During this time, I would spend hours alone walking there and poems would come into my mind unbidden, and often fully formed. I kept a notebook with me whenever I was in the woods or spending time alone at Sussex Prairies and in doing so, this body of poetry came to be.
I have paired the poems with paintings new and old.
The poetry books are A5 in size and full colour.