Work
I studied communications at Coventry Polytechnic and started my working life on a local newspaper, the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Review. But I felt that music was where my heart really lay, and I soon moved on to work in the marketing department of St David’s Hall, a 2,000-seat concert hall/music venue in Cardiff.
I was in my element working in music, and I worked my way up to become Marketing Manager. But there was something missing. Simply putting ‘bums on seats’ wasn’t really enough for me. So when an opportunity came up to promote the social impact of music – working for Sound Sense, the UK development agency for community music – I jumped at the chance.
And that, for me was a turning point. I researched, wrote, and communicated the social and educational impact of music and the arts, and became connected to a wide variety of people and organisations involved in working for a social purpose.
I began to specialise in writing, and in advocacy communications and eventually set up my own business doing just that, in 2000. Since then my work has extended beyond music, and I’ve worked with people in international development; music and creative education; care homes; music/arts and wellbeing; social entrepreneurship; issue-based theatre; equity, diversity and inclusion; youth work; trauma-informed practice; hip hop development; higher education … who knows what next month may bring?
For more information, view or download:
About Writing Services – copywriting and comms
About Writing Services – for music and arts organisations
My CV and details of my training
Home
I live in Monmouth, south east Wales with my husband, my 24 year old daughter, who’s currently away studying Technical Theatre and Stage Management at university, and a grumpy but adorable cat called Olly. I’m the youngest of four sisters, and originally from a small village called Huntley in Gloucestershire.
My big passion is music. I’m a regular gig-goer, community choir member, and amateur instrumentalist (piano is my main instrument and I have taught myself to play guitar and flute but rarely play them nowadays, although that will change).
I love theatre, particularly issue-based theatre.
I have always drawn, painted and made cards and pictures for friends and family.
I occasionally write poetry but only for myself, except on three occasions.
Firstly, when the Royal Scottish National Orchestra contracted me some years ago to write some promotional material for an early years music project. A poem I wrote ended up on the sleeve notes of their CD and in the marketing campaign.
And secondly, when I took part in 26 Treasures, a project by the 26, writers group that I belong to. My poem ended up in a book, was translated into Welsh, and myself and the Welsh language poet/translater read both the English and Welsh versions to an invited audience in the V&A.
Most recently, when I took part in another project from 26, this time about neurodivergence. I worked with my daughter on a poem about her experience of being autistic and dyslexic, and the resulting poem can be found on the 26 microsite for the project.