The Cultural Spring has unveiled its new summer creative programme. I’m delighted to once again be offering calligraphy workshops in South Shields, but there’s plenty of other activities to get involved in. The Cultural Spring is funded by the Arts Council England to improve access to the arts in Sunderland and South Tyneside and has…
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The Cultural Spring: Summer 2019
Writing: Making Your Mark pop-up in Newcastle
A rare day off allowed me to explore the pop-up exhibition at Newcastle City Library inspired by the British Library’s Writing: Making Your Mark exhibition. Family-friendly displays accompanying the main exhibition have been launched in over 20 partner libraries throughout the UK, through the Living Knowledge Network. The one in Newcastle shines a light on…
What’s on my calligraphy bookshelf?
Books are a great way to inspire your calligraphy practice. Whether you’re borrowing from a library, bagging a charity shop bargain or buying something hot-off-the-press, there’s plenty of ways to add to your collection. My two most recent purchases were picked up from Blackwell’s Art and Poster Shop in Oxford. They had such a brilliant…
Exploring Roald Dahl country
Did you know Roald Dahl had his pencils shipped in from America? The yellow Dixon Ticonderoga 2HB – dubbed the world’s best pencil by the manufacturer – matched the yellow lined paper he wrote on behind the yellow door of his writing hut. If you’re noticing a bit of pattern here, yellow was his favourite…
Writing: Making Your Mark at the British Library
A landmark exhibition exploring 5,000 years of writing opens at the British Library in London this month – with smaller, pop-up exhibitions around the country. From carved stone inscriptions, medieval manuscripts and early printed works to beautiful calligraphy, iconic fonts and emojis, Writing: Making Your Mark will deconstruct the act of writing and consider its…
Wedding Calligraphy: Helen and Alex Tribe
Newlyweds Helen and Alex Tribe sent me a gorgeous thank you card recently after commissioning my calligraphy skills for various aspects of their wedding last summer. I couldn’t resist asking DIY bride Helen why she wanted to incorporate calligraphy into their plans and the difference it made to the day. Here’s what she had to…