Workshops + Events
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Workshops + Events 〰️
Photo — Interviewing authors Salena Godden and Louisa Young, at The House of St Barnabas ‘Under the Covers’ Event, October 2022
I’ve led workshops and spoken about the curative powers of reading fiction at many festivals around the world, including Jaipur, Obidos and Cheltenham. Or you can often find me in my bibliotherapy booth giving one-on-one sessions. I’ve interviewed many authors about their life in books and hold a monthly intimate event at London clubs like the House of St Barnabas and The London Library. As an artist, I teach adults once a week and take students to beautiful places.
“I’ll grab any opportunity I can to share my joy in the power of words, the power of reading — and the power of paint.”
Public events
I’m an experienced public speaker and a passionate advocate for how reading fiction can change your life.
I’ve interviewed many great authors on stage at festivals and at more intimate venues. I also give talks about Mindful Reading, Bibliotherapy and Reading for Life, not only at festivals, but in corporate settings, and for private events such as Book Clubs.
Under the Covers, my monthly event at The House of St Barnabas in Soho, gives me an opportunity to delve into authors lives in fiction, talk about their latest book, and what makes them tick as a writer. Interviewees have included the wonderful David Nicholls, Patrick Gale, Kit de Waal, Gabriel Krauze, Claire Fuller, Emma Gannon, Mark Johnson, Harland Miller, Matt Haig, Joanna Trollope, and Natalie Haynes. And as a bibliotherapist I’ll of course prescribe them books to read; even successful authors have reading ailments, let alone challenges in their life that the right novel can help. The audience love getting involved in prescribing books too!
Workshops
I bring bibliotherapy and mindful reading into workplaces, public services, and spaces of learning around the world.
I lead workshops on how reading can help work/life balance, reduce stress, improve social interactions, help through life’s ups and downs, improve self-esteem, help with aspirations and dreams, and give a place to go in times of trouble.
I’ve done workshops for:
Specsavers / Vodaphone / NHS Social Workers / The Sharjah Police Force / Librarians in Abu Dhabi / Fora Work Space / UAEBBY ( United Arab Emirates Book Board for Young People) / IBBY International Congress 2022 in Putrajaya Malaysia
Art teaching
I’ve been teaching students for the past fifteen years, and my art classes are lively and energetic.
I teach art every week, pushing the boundaries of technique and exploring the limits of what you can do with colour and shape. I teach people of all abilities from beginners to practicing artists. Themes of the term have included Colour, Texture, From Trash to Treasure, The Devil is in the Detail, Natural Wonders, Oceans and Deserts, Art and Music, and many more.
Each year I take a group of students to a different destination such as Ithaca, Sicily, Mallorca, and Lake Garda giving them the opportunity to explore landscape, seascape and abstraction in new and exotic locations.