A former journalist, environment reporter and tv news editor who writes poetry about eco issues and was runner-up in the 2018 Ginkgo Poetry Prize.
I’m a lifelong poetry fanatic but spent most of my career as a television journalist with the BBC and ITN. This included stints as Wales’s first Environment Reporter and editing news programmes. I now have my own small business teaching people from business and charities how to conduct interviews so they get their points across.
I’ve only been writing for a few years but studied English Literature at Pembroke College, Cambridge, majoring in Shakespeare, the Romantics and medieval works. My writing is influenced by an upbringing in a small Wiltshire village where there was little else to do but walk for miles -- I’m a great fan of Clare, Keats, Hughes and Plath, and Alice Oswald as a result.
In 2018 I was runner-up in the Ginkgo Poetry Competition (formerly the Resurgence Prize) having only entered a couple of competitions beforehand. Shortly afterwards I won the Lamb Poetry Prize in London.
I don’t send many poems out for publication but am an active member of several London poetry stanzas. I’ve also done a few courses at City Lit and am embarking on one at The Poetry School.
I guess you’d call the bulk of my poetry “ecopoetry” – I like to use humour and satire whenever possible, I’m not convinced an unremitting “isn’t it all awful” theme is likely to gain much traction. I’m keen to explore new forms for the same reason, as well as collaborating across different art forms.
Creative Showcase
Julian has contributed a piece on his recently published poem, Changeling, to our Creative Showcase portfolio, an evolving collection of new and recent works from our members. See Changeling.
Quantine Connection
Julian is one of our members featuring their work as part of the ClimateCultures Quarantine Connection series. We shared his piece, The Hunt, on Day 21 of the 40-day series.
Julian's ClimateCultures posts
On Green Verges