“Painting and writing have much to tell each other” – Virginia Woolf

Only 12% of the National Portrait Gallery’s paintings are by women. One of those is a portrait of Jane Austen, painted by her sister Cassandra whilst they were living here in Chawton.

These two creative sisters united the worlds of painting and writing, and in this poetry workshop you will do the same. You will borrow the techniques of artists like Cassandra to paint poems of your own, penning portraits and splashing colour over the page.

This Zoom workshop is suitable for beginners, and will have a running time of 90 minutes, including guided writing time. As well as being inspired by visual art, you will also have access to example poems to help inspire your writing.

About the tutor: Ellora Sutton is the Creative Engagement Officer at Jane Austen’s House as well as being a prize-winning poet. Her work has been published in The Poetry Review, Popshot Quarterly, The North, bath magg, Poetry News, and Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, amongst others. Her latest pamphlet, antonyms for burial (Fourteen Poems), is the Poetry Book Society’s Spring 2023 Pamphlet Choice.

Feedback from Ellora’s previous workshops

“I loved it and it inspired me to try something new in safe space with other like-minded budding poets.”

“Thank you so much for being such a delightful, nurturing workshop facilitator, and for introducing us to such mind-blowing poems”

“I feel totally inspired. Poetry feels less out of reach now. Thank you.”

“Ellora made the workshop enjoyable, useful and inspiring.”

Details:

Date: Sunday 26 March

Time: 2pm – 3.30pm (GMT)

Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!

Tickets: £25; concessions (disabled people/young people under 26): £15

 This event will take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join the tour in the run up to the event. 

Please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

 Timings are given in UK time (GMT) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time. This event takes place on the day that clocks go forward in the UK – please take extra care!

 This event is part of our ‘Year of Cassandra’, celebrating the life of Cassandra Austen, 1773 – 1845.