September | 2025 |

Recently I sent some poetry off to a competition run by Dark Poets Club and was really pleased to hear back that my poem “Truncated” had received an honourable mention and has since been published on the Dark Poets Club website.

Quite often my writing is a response to some of the appalling behaviour of those with most power in the world and Truncated is one such poem. In just a few lines it reminds us of the hard that can follow from a decision taken among the noise and hot-heady atmosphere of even supposedly modern and democratic governments:

Truncated

The first bombs were launched
through the “Aye” lobby

And unaware
the soon to be victims,
continued their brief
truncated lives
for a little while

Greeted by soul-less
self-serving cheers
from both sides of The House

Yesterday, for the second year, the wonderful Craft and Canvas shop in Hebden Bridge have organised their plein air art competition. With over 40 entries and variable weather it would have been impossible to predict what the final artwork would look like. But in a matter of a few hours there was a stunning display of art on show at North Light Studios, all created out and about in Hebden and its surroundings.

Having spent a few hours down beside the river I must say that this was a very friendly event, as well as the supportive organisers and fellow participants, lots of people out in town, some local, some from overseas, some with children, many with dogs (there was a dog show in the park), and many with food for the ducks came to watch for a while and often to chat. Any trepidation about painting in public was soon gone and that is a credit to the place and its people.

Photo of my finished watercolour showing the river and trees in Hebden Bridge

Here are some pictures of where I was working and my finished watercolour painting. I’m also including pictures of some of the other artworks produced.