Jane Austen’s House Creatives in Residence 2021

As the house where Jane Austen wrote, revised and published her six beloved novels, we are always keen to support artists and writers who are inspired by Austen, and we love sharing them with you.

This year, we are delighted to announce a new project which aims to do just that. Over the course of 2021, we will welcome a series of writers and artists to take part in a digital residency with us. Taking inspiration from Jane Austen’s life, works, home and legacy, our Creatives in Residence will create new works that we will share with you each month.

During their residencies, our creatives will examine different aspects of Jane Austen’s life, explore her home (virtually), read around her works, and chat with us about all things Austen!

First up, we are joined by Hampshire poet Ellora Sutton and French artist Léna Gibert, who will create their own new pieces and also work together to share ideas, stories, imagery and a love of Jane Austen!

Watch this space to see what they create!

Writer in Residence: Ellora Sutton

Ellora is a poet and MA student from Hampshire. She won the inaugural Poetry Society and Artlyst Art to Poetry Award, the 2019 Pre-Raphaelite Society poetry competition, and was shortlisted for the 2020 Bridport Prize. Her work has been published by Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal, fourteen poems, Eye Flash Poetry Journal and Poetry News, amongst others. Her debut chapbook, All the Shades of Grief, was published in 2020 by Nightingale & Sparrow.

Find out more about Ellora…

Artist in Residence: Léna Gibert

Léna is from the South of France. She started drawing very early and quickly decided she should work in this area – she went on to study graphic design in Paris for 4 years, and started working as a designer and an illustrator. Alongside this she came to England to study acting. She kept drawing throughout her time at drama school, finding that her illustrations often help her to define her characters, and that equally her acting experience and love of cinema can help with her illustrations, so she’s very glad to have a foot in both camps!

Find out more about Léna…