Short shelving version:
Shaun Belcher is a UK-based poet known for his eco-poetry and experimental style. His work often explores themes of nature, dislocation, and technology. Here are some key aspects of his poetry:
Publications and Events: He has participated in events like the Open Book readings, showcasing his work alongside other poets like Tony Challis ¹ ².
Style: Belcher’s poetry combines literary depth with experimental soundscapes, as seen in his work “Dark Weather: A Suite for the End of Nature”.
Influences: His rural upbringing and experiences as a teacher have significantly influenced his writing, which often touches on wider themes of social change and technology’s impact on society.
Background: Originally from Oxford, Belcher now resides in Nottingham and has been writing poetry since his mid-20s.
Full Shelf version:
‘a concern for language and for how it shapes memory and identity’
ANNA CROWE, LINES REVIEW, EDINBURGH.
‘Belcher cannot be accused of nostalgia or pastoral myth-making but is as vituperative in tone as Larkin’
RAYMOND FRIEL, SOUTHFIELDS.
..the poems individually and cumulatively preserve aspects of identity and genealogy rooted in a particular soil and way of life..an underlying humaneness’
STEWART CONN (Scottish Poet Laureate, Playwright )
‘your poem is so beautiful..I love the tenderness of the carrying of the horse which was rescued.’
(The Ice Horses)
TESS GALLAGHER (Poet)
Born Oxford, England, 1959
Oxford Polytechnic Foundation Art & Design 1978-1979
Hornsey College of Art : B.A. Fine Art 1979-1981
Nottingham University Teacher Training P.G.C.C.E. 2003-4
Derby University Postgrad. Cert. in Art Practice 2007-8
Nottingham Trent University M.A. Fine Art by Registered Project 2012-14
I started writing poetry in mid 1980’s after Art College and from 1992 I was published in a range of literary magazines including Lines Review, Gairfish, Southfields, Staple, Slowdancer and Oxford Poetry etc. I then helped found the Last Gasp poetry group in Oxford in 1992 with Giles Goodland and Bridget Hobbs (Kursheed now).
I then moved to Edinburgh in 1994 following my heart (literally) and joined the Shore Poets in Edinburgh and a poem of mine was used as the title of the group anthology The Ice Horses in 1996.
This anthology was edited by Stewart Conn and Ian McDonough and included Ian Chrichton Smith and other leading Scottish poets.
I became interested in folk and alt-country music in the late eighties and still performs as alter-ego ‘Trailer Star’.
I moved back to Oxford in 1996 from Edinburgh and then started an online music review zine Flyinshoes which ran until 2004 under my editorship and then passed to Rob Ellen in Scotland and runs to this day ..see link.
I then lost my heart somewhere inside the M25 and moved to Nottingham in July 2002.
A ‘Tribute to Trailer Star’ CD ‘Moon Over The Downs’ was released in 2003 in aid of Cancer Research following my father’s diagnosis in 2002. He died in 2004 and my mother also passed away from cancer in 2012.
I then trained as a Further Education teacher at Nottingham University (P.G.C.C.E) graduating in 2004.
Since then I have taught a ‘varied portfolio’ including art & design, basic skills, creative writing in prisons (Inside Out group) and from 2007 to 2014 was a web design lecturer at NTU School of Art and Design which role ceased in July 2014 with the closure of the ‘Multimedia’ course. I now teach occasionally as a support lecturer at Nottingham College.
I had a selection of my published poetry released as a pamphlet by Salt in December 2010 as ‘Last Farmer‘ in the Salt Modern Voices series and then read at a series of readings in London, Oxford and Manchester.
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POETRY READINGS
SALT MODERN VOICES TOUR 2011
Oxford / Manchester/ London /Nottingham
2008 STAPLE LAUNCH: LOWDHAM FESTIVAL
2001 BACKROOM POETS, OXFORD :
With W.N.Herbert & Joe Butler.
2000 FIRE MAGAZINE READING Highgate London:
various writers associated with Fire.
2000 LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL :
Three Oxford Poets with Giles Goodland & Jeremy Hilton.
1999 SOUTHFIELDS MAGAZINE READING :
Magic Cafe, Oxford with Richard Price & Giles Goodland.
1996 SHORE POETS :
Fruitmarket gallery, Edinburgh with John Purser & Gillian Ferguson.
1993 DIDCOT FESTIVAL :
Didcot Library with fellow Didcot poets Jonathan Davidson & Greg Sweetnam.
1992 SLOWDANCER 28 :
Angel Row Gallery, Nottingham with Kirsty Gunn and Mark Robinson
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for more Shaun Belcher artwork and songwriting click HERE