Tues 13 August 2024  |  Guest poet at Second Light Residential at Holland House, Cropthorne, Pershore WR10 3NB

Sunday 28 July 2024  |  Guest poet on The Poetry Place, West Wilts Radio

Tuesday 23 July 2024 |  Online launch for ‘High Nowhere’, alongside Tina Cole and ‘What it Was’, with guest reading by Thirza Clout. Further details tbc.

Thurs 11 July 2024  |  Guest poet at Shrewsbury Poetry, St Nicolas Cafe & Bar, Castle Gates, 7.30pm, entry donation £3+

Tues 25 June 2024  |  Guest poet at Castle Bookshop, Ludlow 6-7pm

Thursday 20 June 2024  |  Guest poet at The Treehouse Bookshop Poetry Night, Kenilworth details tbc

Sunday 9 June 2024 |  Guest poet at Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms, Bath Road, Cheltenham, 8pm tbc

Tuesday 5 March 2024 |  Book Launch for HIGH NOWHERE at The Hive, Shrewsbury, 7-8.30pm. Free entry + refreshments.

Sunday 25 Feb 2024  |  Guest poet at Red Door Poets online 6pm Eventbrite

Monday 12 Feb 2024  |  Guest poet at Whitchurch Poetry, Bargates Hall, Whitchurch. 7.30pm £3 entry.

Tuesday 9 May 2023  |  Guest reader for Keele Readings at Anthology launch, 7.30pm, University Common Room, Keele Hall, Keele University.

Thursday 6 April 2023  |  Guest reader for Shrewsbury Poetry alongside Suzanne Iuppa at PetitGlou, Shrewsbury Indoor Market, 6 for 7pm till 9, £3 on the door and sign up for open mic

Saturday 19 November 2022 | at St Mary’s Church, Nantwich 7pm – ‘A Shropshire Lass’ – a narrated evening of poetry and song, featuring works by Martin Bussey, Patrick Larley, Jean Atkin and Andrew Rudd. Performed by soprano Holly Teague and tenor William Smith. Book tickets here 

Saturday 22 October 2022 | at St Oswald’s Church, Malpas 7pm – ‘A Shropshire Lass’ – a narrated evening of poetry and song, featuring works by Martin Bussey, Patrick Larley, Jean Atkin and Andrew Rudd. Performed by soprano Holly Teague and tenor William Smith. Book tickets here

Saturday 15 October 2022 | at Maidment Hall, Shrewsbury School 7.30pm LAUNCH – ‘A Shropshire Lass’ – a narrated evening of poetry and song, featuring works by Martin Bussey, Patrick Larley, Jean Atkin and Andrew Rudd. Performed by soprano Holly Teague and tenor William Smith. Book tickets here 

Sunday 9 October 2022  |  Fan-peckled & Zine-making workshop with Katy Alston at the Poetry Pharmacy, 10.30-1pm. £25 – includes legendary cake! Sign up for a place on Eventbrite here.

Saturday 24 September 2022 | An Evening with Coast to Coast Poets, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, 5.30-7.30.  Katherine Towers and Jean Atkin, with presentation from photographer Ron Davies. Free, but book your tickets here.

Thurs 8 September 2022  |  Guest reader for Poetry Breakfast in Much Wenlock, Tea on the Square cafe, 9am

Sat 27 August 2022 |  Fan-peckled reading at Bridgnorth Library 

Sat 13 August 2022 |  Guest reader at Coast to Coast to Coast at Open Eye Gallery in Liverpool L3 1BP 5.30-7.30pm

21-24 July 2022  |  BIG LIT festival in Gatehouse of Fleet – reading with Ross Donlon. Thursday 21 July 1.30pm in The River Room, Mill on the Fleet DG7 2HP. Tickets £8 https://biglit.org/tickets/ 

Fri 1 July 2022  |  ‘Fan-peckled’ – the lost words of Shropshire’ with Jean Atkin & Katy Alston at Castle Book Shop, Ludlow. Part of Ludlow Fringe. 6pm https://www.castlebookshopludlow.co.uk/events.html and scroll down!

Sun 26 June 2022 |  I am guest reader at the Poetry Pharmacy launch of Meg Cox’s collection ‘A Square of Sunlight’. 3.30-5pm £5 Book via Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-square-of-sunlight-meg-cox-tickets-330487104827?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Sun 6 March 2022  |  Poetry Pharmacy Launch of ‘The Bicycles of Ice and Salt’ with guest readers – real people, real cake! 1.30-3.30pm £3 – Bishop’s Castle

Wed 1 December 2021  |  Online launch of ‘The Bicycles of Ice and Salt’, alongside Rosie Jackson, who’s launching her pamphlet ‘Light Makes it Easy’. Free, but register here – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/jean-atkin-rosie-jackson-online-poetry-launch-tickets-193415138887 

Sunday 18 July 2021  |  Fan-peckled Launch at the Poetry Pharmacy! An outdoor launch of ‘Fan-peckled’ my collaboration with Katy Alston, to be held at the lovely Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle. 

Saturday 10 July 2021 |  Ledbury Poetry Festival – Reading with Beth Calverley 5pm-6pm St Michael’s and All Angels Church Courtyard. 

Friday 9 July 2021  |  Summer Festival of Stories and Songs 7.30pm – performance of UNDERSTORIES, my collaboration with Whalebone music at SPARC theatre, Bishop’s Castle. Yes, first face to face performance for a year +!

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Thursday 2 July 2020  |  Shrewsbury Poetry Night 7.30pm – I will be hosting this one, and delighted to welcome guest poets Rosie Jackson and Graham Burchell’s ‘Two Girls and a Beehive’ – their collaboration focusing on the art and life of Stanley Spencer.  Postponed due to Covid-19

17-19 April 2020  |  BIG LIT – I’ll be reading with Ross Donlon at an event at the wonderful BIG LIT in Gatehouse of Fleet, Galloway.  Times tbc. Postponed due to Covid-19

Friday 20 March 2020  |  Teignmouth Poetry Festival – I’ll be reading with Roselle Angwin on Friday 20 March at 2.30pm, and leading a workshop ‘Writing Poetry Playfully’ on Saturday 21 March 10-1. The link is here, tickets on sale now! Postponed due to Covid-19

Tuesday 3 March 2020  | The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting fantastic guest poets Helen Ivory and Martin Figura.  And there will of course be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £5 in the hat as you go in.  Please note: this will be the very last Poetry Lounge that I will be organising in Ludlow (I’m now working with Shrewsbury Poetry Night instead).  I do hope The Poetry Lounge will go forward under new management!

Tuesday 7 January 2020  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Stephen Boyce and Cherry Doyle.  And there will of course be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £5 in the hat as you go in (note first price rise in 5 years!).  

Sunday 1 December 2019  |  Buzzwords in Cheltenham, where I’m the guest reader.  We’ll be upstairs at the Exmouth Arms in Bath Road, Leckhampton, Cheltenham. Start time 7pm for the workshop or 8pm for the poetry reading. Finish time is 10pm.

Friday 22 November 2019  |  Second Light Autumn Festival – I’m guest reader at the evening event starts 4.45pm at The Art Workers Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT.

Tuesday 5 November 2019  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Alison Brackenbury, Ann Drysdale, Patricia Leighton and Romany poet Raine Geoghegan.  And there will of course be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 19 October 2019  |  3pm – I’ll be reading at the Poets’ Church at Orcop in the company of Roger Garfitt and Adam Horovitz, as we celebrate farming’s ability to transform itself in the face of climate change.  HR2 8ES, Herefordshire.

Thursday 3 October 2019  |  National Poetry Day – I’m giving a reading from ‘How Time is in Fields’ at Shrewsbury Poetry, St Nicholas’ Cafe Bar, SY1 2BQ Shrewsbury, alongside Philip Gross and Lesley Saunders, who’ll be reading from their beautiful collaborative work, ‘Part of the Main’.

Thursday 3 October 2019  |  National Poetry Day – I’ll be performing my BBC poem for Shropshire on BBC Radio Shropshire during the morning, then leading a National Poetry Day workshop at Church Stretton Library at 3pm on the subject of Home Truths.  To book please ring Church Stretton Library on 01694 722535. 

Monday 16 September 2019  |  Poetry at BookShrop – I’m delighted to be guest poet at this great poetry/open mic night in the Black Bear in Whitchurch.  7.30 – 9.30. More here.

Tuesday 3 September 2019  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Richard Skinner and Peter Raynard.  There will of course be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Wednesday 28 August 2019  |  Joint launch of ‘How Time is in Fields’ alongside new collections from Roger Garfitt and Adam Horovitz.  We’ll be in the Cafe at  Acton Scott Historic Working Farm SY6 6QN at 7.30pm, with a Shire horse to greet us on the door!  Free entry, wine, soft drinks and light refreshments – everyone welcome!

Tuesday 7 May 2019  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poet Angela France, who will perform her Arts Council sponsored multimedia show, ‘The Hill’, so this will be special!  There will of course be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Thursday 2 May 2019  |  My new collection, ‘How Time is in Fields’, from IDP, will be launched at Cheltenham Poetry Festival at ‘Truth and Lies – the Indigo Dreams Showcase’, alongside Alyson Hallett, Paul McGrane and Nicola Jackson. 7pm, Cheltenham Playhouse main stage.  Book tickets here!

Tuesday 5 March 2019  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Deborah Alma and #MeToo Anthology poets, Pat Edwards, Bethany Rivers, Deborah Alma and also me.  There will be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Tuesday 8 January 2019  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Keith Chandler and Liz Lefroy. There will be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Tuesday 6 November 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets Paul Francis and David Calcutt. There will be marvellous open mic talent as ever, and for a one-off treat to our audiences, November’s Poetry Lounge has a guest compere too, the wonderful Pat Edwards!  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Tuesday 25 September 2018 |  A Workshop for Bookshrop – I will be running a Pen to Mic workshop in Whitchurch Library, 2pm-4pm. This workshop will have you writing a new poem, then learning techniques with a mic and amp for performing it. Places are limited, but free – please book via Whitchurch Library 01948 662238. Supported by Poetry on Loan.
The workshop is followed in the evening by Poetry at Bookshrop, where I’ll be a guest reader. There are also open mic slots – with a priority for any poem written in the workshop!

Tuesday 4 September 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room is hosting guest poets: the magnificent Meg Cox, and also members of Border Poets who are launching their new anthology ‘Wolf Hoard’.  There will be marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Sunday 8 July 2018  |  Poems and Paths, a Poetry Walk for Ledbury Poetry Festival – I’ll be leading this walk through ancient Frith Wood.  A chance to walk, hear poetry, and write some.  9.30 – 12 noon.  Meet under the Market House, £9.50 book here.

Tuesday 3 July 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Susan Richardson, Liz Lefroy and Hugh Mcmillan with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 30 June 2018  |  The Spellwright at Ledbury Poetry Festival – I’ll be there for Walled Garden Day for families – free!

Sunday 24 June 2018  | I’m leading a poetry walk for Hereford Walking Festival: Paths and Poems in Frith Wood (Walk 40).  Cost £5 for adults, accompanied children free.

Sunday 6 May 2018  |  Wenlock Poetry Busk – I’m very happy to be reading here at this lovely event among some excellent poets in beautiful Much Wenlock.  Entry is a mere £2, and you can come and go.  The full programme for the day features the Poetry Busk (at Priory Hall from 2-5pm) and an evening performance with poets Paul Henry, Jo Bell and Philip Gross (at The Edge at 7pm).  It’s also a chance to celebrate the amazing Anna Dreda, founder of Wenlock Poetry Festival.

Tuesday 1 May 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Gill McEvoy and John Mills with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Wednesday 25 April 2018  |  WORKSHOP ‘Map | Poem | Place’ for Weaver Words, Frodsham’s Literature Festival at Frodsham Community Centre, 11am – 1pm. Tickets: £10, including tea/coffee.  More info, and book here.

Thursday 8 March 2018  |  READING at the Treehouse Bookshop, Kenilworth CV8 1EB

Tuesday 6 March 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Julia Deakin and Dave Bingham with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Monday 22 January 2018  |  READING I’m a guest poet at Bookshrop in Whitchurch SY13 1AA.  7.30pm – postponed – new date tbc!

Tuesday 2 January 2018  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Pamela Scobie and Gareth Owen with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Friday 10 November 2017 |  NAWE Conference, York – I’ll be on a panel discussing ‘Writing to Sustain All Life’, with creative input!  With Jennie Bailey and Gale Burns.  2.30pm.

Tuesday 7 November 2017  |   The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Roy Marshall and Miriam Obrey with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  Everyone welcome!
In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Wednesday 25 October 2017 |  The Spellwright at Herefordshire’s Family Festival Day  Come and order a spell from me!  Spells written to your Requirements without Delay.  Free. https://www.courtyard.org.uk/familyfestival/

Thursday 5 October 2017  |  READING I’m the guest at Shrewsbury Poetry, alongside the wonderful Angela Topping and Steve Pottinger!  Old Market Hall, 7.30pm.

Tuesday 5 September 2017  |   The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Ruby Muse (Jools and Malcolm Heyes) and Tina Cole and Jeff Phelps, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Tuesday 4 July 2017  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Colin Sutherill and Rhiannon Hooson, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 1 July 2017  |  ‘Writing Ludlow’ poetry workshop at Ludlow Fringe – I’ll be leading a walk round medieval Ludlow, then guiding writing in a workshop afterwards.  10.30am – 12 noon at The Sitting Room, Blue Boar, Ludlow.  Book via Ludlow Fringe here.  £15

Tuesday 2 May 2017  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Roz Goddard & Gareth Owen, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Wednesday 5 April 2017 | Vanguard Readings @Sitting Room, Ludlow – the fabulous Vanguard Readings is on tour!  Guest readers Jean Atkin, Steve Griffiths, Rhiannon Hooson, Chris Kinsey, James Sheard and Richard Skinner.  7.30pm, free entry!

Tuesday 7 March 2017  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Steve Pottinger & Chris Kinsey, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Tuesday 3 January 2017  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Claire Walker & Matt Black, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 3 December 2016  |  Reading with Meg Cox and Kirsty Clarke at A Pie, A Pint & A Poem at Yarpole St. Leonard’s Church, 12 noon – 2pm.

Friday 11 November 2016  |  NAWE Conference: together with Liz Hyder, as The Wordshoppers, I’m running a workshop ‘The Washing Line’ – more here.

Friday 4 November 2016  |  Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, I’m reading with Jacqueline Saphra, Annie Freud and Ethan Saphra, 7pm, Peter Pears Gallery, Aldeburgh.  More here.

Tuesday 1 November 2016  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Sophie McKeand, David Olsen and Bethany Rivers, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Thursday 6 October 2016 |  Poetry Swindon Festival, 2pm-4pm, Richard Jefferies Museum – I will be leading Mapping into Landscapes of the Mind, a workshop inspired by nature/eco poetry at a time of change – join me to explore your head, your memory, and the world!  Afterwards, at 3.30pm I’ll be giving a guest reading alongside Cliff Yates and Wendy Klein – click here for more.

Saturday 17 September 2016 | Spark Young Writers, Telford – I’ll be leading this group every month till June 2017 for Writing West Midlands.  This group is for 8-11s – if you’re interested in Spark Young Writers there’s more here.

14 September 2016 start |  The Life of Things – a face to face poetry course for The Poetry School in Manchester.  5 weekly sessions on Wednesdays 7pm – 9pm – follow the link here.

Tuesday 6 September 2016  |  The Poetry Lounge in the Sitting Room hosts guest poets Rennie Parker, Thirza Clout and Deborah Alma, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £3 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 13 August 2016 |  The Crow House at Castle Books, Castle Square, Ludlow.  I’ll be in the bookshop to sign copies of ‘The Crow House’, tell how it came to be written, and hint at the scary bits.

Thursday 11 August  |  Great Malvern’s Revolting Rhymes : a mischievous poetry workshop for 7-11s, inspired by Roald Dahl and Malvern’s famous residents and places.  1.30pm – 3pm.

Monday 11 July 2016 |  Poetry Night in Presteigne, 7.30 @TheRad – I’ll be reading with Rhiannon Hooson.

Tuesday 5 July 2016 |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets Naomi Paul and Andrew Fusek Peters, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £2 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 11 June 2016 |  Welshpool Poetry Festival – I will be leading As the Crow Flies, a children’s workshop at 2.30pm, then reading in Welshpool’s ‘grand evening of Poetry laced with music’, alongside Gillian Clarke and others. 

Tuesday 7 June 2016  |  Finding Treasure – a unique evening of archaeology and poetry at The Sitting Room, Blue Boar, Ludlow.  Finding Treasure is about what detectorists dig up and how poets respond.  Slideshow, poetry readings, talk from Peter Reavill of British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme. Starts 7.30pm, £5 on the door.

Tuesday 3 May 2016  |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets Jake Campbell and Claire Leavey with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £2 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 23 April 2016  |  Featured Poet 3pm The Poetry Busk, Wenlock Poetry Festival, Busk Marquee on the Festival Green. The Poetry Busk is 12-5pm Sat and Sun, £5 for all day ticket and hosted by Liz Lefroy!

Friday 18 March 2016  |  Border Poets Reading : I’m reading with five other members of the Border Poets at ‘The Nettle Trick’, St. Michael’s Village Hall, Tenbury Wells, 7.30.  £4.50 includes a glass of wine.

Tuesday 1 March 2016  |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets David Calcutt and Ruth Stacey with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £2 in the hat as you go in.

Monday 29 February to Friday 5 March 2016  |  Arvon Learning & Participation schools week at The Hurst – I’m tutoring this with Jonny Zucker.

Friday 5 February 2016  |  Finding Treasure – I’m leading a Poetry Workshop at Ludlow Library, in partnership with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.  10.30-12.30, £16 (includes real coffee, tea, nice biscuits).  Book here.

Saturday 30 January 2016  |  Wenlock Poetry Festival Poet in Residence Handover Party  7.30pm at Wenlock Pottery, a night of poetry from our 2015 Poet in Residence Jean Atkin, and Wenlock Poetry Festival’s new incumbent, Paul Francis. With bar, and WPF tickets on sale.

Tuesday 5 January 2016  |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets Lesley Ingram and Kathleen Quinlan with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £2 in the hat as you go in.

Monday 7 December 2015  |  The Library Toolkit (West Midlands Readers Network) Dudley Archives and Local History Centre: I’ll be running a workshop specially for librarians about Readers in Residence in libraries, and then a fun creative writing workshop.

Tuesday 3 November 2015  |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets Liz Lefroy, and The Border Poets, with marvellous open mic talent as ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, £2 in the hat as you go in.

Saturday 3 October 2015  |  Poetry Swindon Festival Battered Moons Winners event 8pm – 9:30pm.  I’ll be reading my Commended poem from this year’s Battered Moons Competition judged by Pascale Petit.

Thursday 1 October 2015  |  READING as guest poet for Shrewsbury Poetry Night.  Shrewsbury Poetry Old Post Office, Milk Street, 7.30. 

Thursday 17 September 2015  |  for six weeks – 10.30am to 12.30pm – a series of six workshops ‘In The Museum Vaults’ – I’m leading six poetry and creative writing workshops exploring the catalogued, bottled and taxidermied past, housed in the climate-controlled stores of Ludlow Museum Resource Centre.  More here.  £55 for all 6 workshops, incl refreshments.  Book museumeducation@shropshire.gov.uk or 01743 258881/258884.

Tuesday 1st September 2015  |  The Poetry Lounge at The Sitting Room hosts guest poets John Hegley and Ian McEwen, with marvellous open mic talent as per ever.  In The Blue Boar, Ludlow, 7 for 7.30 start, tickets £5 in advance.  Click here for more info and how to buy!

Saturday 18 July 2015  |  Workshop day ‘Writing Down The Dingle’ 10.30 – 3.30.  Jean will lead this workshop focused on writing about place at Gleanings Centre, Gravels Bank, Minsterley, Shropshire SY5 0HG.  To book email jean[at]wordsparks.co.uk.  More here.

Friday 12 June 2015  |  Friends of Conakry Refugee School Poetry Night, guest poets Liz Lefroy, Jean Atkin, Deb Alma, Steve Harrison & Paul Francis, plus open mic.  The Pottery, Much Wenlock, £7.

Tuesday 7 July 2015  |  The Poetry Lounge in The Sitting Room, The Blue Boar, 52 Mill Street, Ludlow SY8 1BB with Guest Poets Nadia Kingsley and Keith Chandler, plus Open Mic.  £2 on the door.  Please note new venue!

Thursday 4 June 2015  |  Fire River Poets Prizewinners’ Evening 8pm – 10pm, United Reformed Church Hall, Paul Street, Taunton, TA1 3PF.  I get to read my winning poem and a set!

Friday 29 May 2015  |  A Benefit Reading for Nepal’s Earthquake Survivors, guest poets Jean Atkin & Liz Lefroy plus open mic.  Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, 7pm, £5.

Thursday 21 May 2015 |  Remember Me Day at The Courtyard, Hereford, reading for In The Pink poets, reflecting work with people living with dementia.

Tuesday 5 May 2015  |  The Poetry Lounge in The Sitting Room, Upper Galdeford, Ludlow, SY8 1QD, 7pm for 7.30pm, £2 on the door.  Guest Poets: Gavin Owen and Sarah James plus open mic.

Thursday 30th April 2015  |  READING at Cheltenham Poetry Festival, 6pm-7pm, The Strand, £7/£4.  With Tricia Torrington and Bill Holloway.

Sunday 26th April 2015 |  Wenlock Poetry Festival Finale 8pm – Jean will read alongside Imtiaz Dharker and the Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy.

Sunday 26th April 2015 |  Roz Goddard will host ‘An Audience with Jean Atkin, Poet in Residence’ at Wenlock Poetry Festival. 

Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April  |  LUCK’S WEIGHT exhibition at Wenlock Poetry Festival Over the festival weekend, Priory Hall will host a collaborative exhibition of Jean’s poems and photographs by Andrew Fusek Peters.  The work explores the unique environment of Acton Scott Historic Working Farm in Shropshire: a beautiful place farmed using only horsepower alongside traditional skills and tools.  ‘Luck’s Weight’ pamphlets for sale!

Saturday 11th April 2015  |  As part of her Reader in Residence project, Jean’s organised a Readers’ Day at Southwater Library, Telford – a FREE day of reading celebrations, featuring workshops from Birmingham writer William Gallagher, pop-up poetry readings from The Escalator Poets, aka Shrewsbury Stanza, a Story Walk with Jake Evans – and Jean will be there all day, typing on her vintage typewriter – do interrupt and help to write a Giant Southwater Poem…

Monday 23rd March 2015  |  As Southwater’s Reader in Residence,  Jean will be leading ‘Lost Keys & Fading Photographs’, a free creative writing workshop at Southwater Library, Telford.
1pm – 3pm.  Please book at  01952 382915, places are limited.

Saturday 21st March 2015 |  Jean will be leading a World Poetry Day Workshop for Wenlock Poetry Festival, 10am to 12.30pm at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery.  Places are limited – you need to book!  £18 (includes tea, coffee and biscuits). Places are limited so booking is essential. Please email info@wenlockpoetryfestival.org 

Monday 16th March 2015 |  Guest Speaker at The Creative Ageing Forum at The Courtyard, Hereford.  Jean will be discussing her experience of working as a poet on placements with nursing homes through the ‘In The Pink’ project.  6.30pm – 8pm. Places are free but bookable.  

Monday 9th March 2015  |  READING at Red Parrot Poetry, The Wine Bar, Presteigne, 7.30pm.

Thursday 11 December 2014 |  READING Bare Fiction Magazine Issue 4 Launch at 6/8 Kafé, 6/8 Temple Row, Birmingham B2 5HG.  7pm to 9.30pm, £3.  I’ll be reading with Jo Bell, Roy Marshall, Jacqui Rowe, Lucy Jeynes, Ted Eames, David Calcutt and Penny Rogers. 

Thursday 14 August 2014  |  READING – guest poet at Mid Wales Poetry Open Mic Evening.  8pm, admission £3.  Mid Wales Arts Centre, Caersws, Powys SY17 5SB

Saturday 19 July 2014 | READING at ‘Poems for the Farm’, a celebratory event for the end of Jean’s residency at Acton Scott Historic Working Farm, featuring poets who’ve contributed work to the project, the photography of Andrew Fusek Peters and new poems from Jean.  3pm, with complimentary cream tea, in the New Barn, Acton Scott.  Tickets are free but must be booked jean[at]wordsparks.co.uk or phone 01694 781307.

Sunday 13 July 2014  |  READING at Ledbury Poetry Festival ‘Rooms, Places, Spaces’.  With Myra Schneider and Deborah Alma at the Feathers Hotel.  3.30pm, click here for link.

Friday 20 June 2014  |  READING at MIDSUMMER EVE POETRY EVENING, Westhope College, Craven Arms, SY7 9JL, with Jeff Phelps, Emma Pursehouse and Alan Wilson, plus open mics.  6.30pm for 7, tickets £5 from info@westhope.org.uk or tel. 01584 861293

Thursday 19 June 2014 | READING at Poet’s Corner at The Castle Hotel, Bishops Castle, with readings and music from 8pm.  If you want to book a meal for 7pm, call Bryan Podmore on 01588 620541.

Tuesday 13 May 2014  |  READING at Poetry Alight in Lichfield.  

Wednesday 30 April 2014  |  READING at the Launch of ‘Heavenly Bodies’, Beautiful Dragons Press, at the Judges Lodgings, Lancaster, 7.30pm.

Sunday 27 April 2014  |  READING at Wenlock Poetry Festival with Grey Hen Press, from the new anthology ‘Running Before The Wind’, with R V Bailey, June Hall, Lesley Ingram and Hermione Sandall.  12:30 pm – 1:15 pm £5.50 / £4.50.

Tuesday 11 March 2014  | READING at City Voices, Lych Gate Tavern, off Queen Square, Wolverhampton.  Tickets on door £2.50, starts 7.30pm.

March 2014  |  READINGS for Wenlock Poetry Festival Anthology Tour: Tuesday 4 March 7.30 at The Poetry Lounge in Ludlow; Monday 10 March 7.30 in The George and Dragon, Much Wenlock; Monday 31 March 7.30 in Housmans Bar, Church Stretton.

Thursday 6 February 2014  |  READING alongside Rosie Shepperd and Katrina Naomi at Poetry Night at Shrewsbury Coffee House. 

Thursday 28 November 2013  |  READING for Walking With Poets at The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 6.30pm.  Entry only via RBGE Staff Offices at 20A Inverleith Row (look out for the flags!), Edinburgh EH3 5LR.

10 October 2013 | READING at Wenlock Poetry Breakfast 9am at Tea on the Square, Much Wenlock £5 includes coffee and croissants

5 October 2013 | READING ‘The Crow House’ on the Children’s Programme at Wigtown Book Festival, 10am.

Sunday 29 September 2013 |  READING at Wigtown Book Festival: Silvana McLean with Jean Atkin, Margaret Elphinstone and Sally Magnusson ‘Migrations: In the Track of the North Wind’.  £6

Saturday 28 September – 3 November | EXHIBITION ‘Drawing a Voice’, at Mill on The Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet, including work from ‘Voyage of the Discovery’ with artist Catriona Taylor and ‘The Henkeeper’s Almanac’, with artist Pamela Grace.  Free.

16 – 27 September 2013  |  RESIDENCY at Cove Park as part of Walking With Poets.

Sunday 1 September |  READING ‘The Dark Farms’ at Environmental Arts Festival Scotland (EAFS) 5pm at the Festival Yurt, SNH Cairnsmore of Fleet Reserve Office, Dromore Farm, Gatehouse of Fleet, DG7 2BP.

AUGUST 2013 |  POET IN RESIDENCE at Logan Botanic Garden, as part of Scottish Poetry Library’s Walking with Poets project.