All Around North Devon with Liz Shakespeare

Those in search of an unusual present will have the opportunity to buy a personally signed book during the run-up to Christmas. Local author Liz Shakespeare, who has become well-known in the South-West as an author who brings to life the people, history and landscapes of Devon, will be signing copies of her books at several different venues. 

Her most recent book, All Around The Year, is a collection of twelve poignant stories, deeply rooted in the Devon countryside, and each linked to a month of the year from January through to December. She relied on historical research for inspiration for her previous books, The Turning of the Tide, a true story of a young Clovelly mother confined in Bideford Workhouse, Fever: A Story from a Devon Churchyard, and The Memory Be Green: An Oral History of a Devon Village. 

She is currently working on a novel based on the life of the Bideford Postman-Poet Edward Capern. Liz will be signing copies of her four books at the following venues:

• Bude Castle Christmas Fair on Sunday 29th November
• Ruby Country Market at Hatherleigh on Saturday December 5th
• South Molton Fatstock Show on Sunday December 6th
• Big Sheep Craft Market on December 12th, 19th and 23rd
• Hartland Farmers' Market on Sunday December 20th

Liz Shakespeare at Clovelly

Liz Shakespear Books

Devon Wildlife Trust wins top award for green education work

News has just been announced that Devon Wildlife Trust is the 2015 recipient of the Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI) Environmental Education Award.  

This award category is aimed at those who 'promote environmental education across Devon recognising schools, colleges, universities, as well as community groups and the business sector who has made a significant contribution to improving environmental education'. The award was made on Thursday night at a ceremony at the Met Office's Exeter headquarters. Devon Wildlife Trust was chosen for its Wildlife Champions programme which has inspired hundreds of children to do good works for local wildlife and wild places. 

Wildlife Champions works with local schools where it has striven not only to get young people to appreciate the beauty and importance of the natural world , but also to take practical action to help it. In the past this has meant the Trust has worked with pupils to improve their school grounds through planting wildflower meadows, creating ponds and planting trees. Each autumn Devon Wildlife Trust also organises a conference in which hundreds of Wildlife Champions gather to discuss their achievements and plans

The Trust's Paul Martin leads the Wildlife Champion initiative. He said:

"We were told that the award was given to us due to the scale of our project, the length of time that it has been running and the vision for empowering a generation of children to be able to change the world around them. We are immensely proud to have won this award! All the staff and students involved work so hard to make this project successful, so it is fantastic for them to receive this accolade." 

Devon Wildlife Trust's Paul Martin with the DEBI Award  Photo copyright DWT (All rights reserved)

Machines that Draw. Winter Artists in residence at St. Anne's Art & Community Centre, Barnstaple.

St Anne’s Arts Centre has welcomed its next artists in residence – Edmund Eva & George Baldwin, eegb drawing. The pair are the successful applicants to Septembers call for a winter artist in residence at the arts centre. Last year Ed and George both graduated from Falmouth University and have spent the last 8 months working in Belfast on an artist residency. They build machines and robots that draw. Previous work includes an interactive polargraph set inside a shipping container. When the public walked by, a sensor picked up their movement and the machine drew. This led the public to engage with the machine, inviting them to play, move and dance to affect the resulting drawing.

“We can’t wait to see what they might build or develop whilst they are at St Anne’s. I’m looking forward to visiting one of their open studio sessions to hear about their work in progress” Cllr Mrs Val Elkins, Mayor of Barnstaple

The aim of the residency is to provide a personal and professional development opportunity for an artist, helping to introduce new audiences to their art form and in turn interesting people in the building and its history. As part of the residency the artists will be opening their studio to the public, leading workshops for school groups and giving talks for groups of adults. Ed and George are hosting Open Studio sessions on 26 + 27 November, 3 + 4 December, 9 + 10 December all 11am - 7pm, it’s an opportunity to meet and chat to an artist while they are working and learn something of their creative process.

There will also be a special workshop for families on Friday 11 December from 10am – 12 noon, it’s a free drop in session to try out the artists Scribble Bots – tiny robots that race around drawing large scale pictures on the floor.

“We believe the juxtaposition of modern technology in this 14th Century chapel will refresh the space, inviting in new audiences to engage in the arts as well as the heritage of Barnstaple’s most interesting building”. Ed Eva

In 2016 St Anne’s will be offering a series of opportunities for Devon artists in any art form – visual art and sculpture, craft, music, theatre, poetry, dance or any combination of these.

“Offering our building, heritage and experience as inspiration will help us to showcase Barnstaple’s history and culture in a new way for visitors and the local community. This time round I received a fantastic range of applications, there are some wonderful artists living and working in North Devon. A call out for an artist in residence during the spring will be released in the new year.” Dion Sears, Culture and Community Development Manager

You can also sign up for the St Anne’s mailing list to keep up to date with news about events and open studio days http://eepurl.com/bwCkhX

Machines that Draw - Photos copyright eegb drawing  (All rights reserved)

Keep in Touch

St. Anne's Arts & Community Centre
Barnstaple Town Council
eegb drawing
Event Dates:

·         Open Studio sessions on 26 + 27 November, 3 + 4 December, 9 + 10 December all 11am - 7pm
·         Free Workshop for Families – Scribble Bots 11 Dec 10am – 12 noon
·         Talk with Petroc Art Students 1 Dec 1pm
·         Workshop with Park School 25 Nov 10am
·         Exhibition 14 – 24 Dec
·         Exhibition Preview 17 Dec 6.30pm