About Despina

Artist, Christian, Reader, Storyteller, Teacher, Writer

As a Storyteller I can keep my listeners enthralled as I create creatures, characters, settings and adventures. I find things hidden in plain sight; strange and mysterious things in the ordinary which fire children’s and adult’s imaginations.
I have always loved writing: short stories, long stories, poems, diaries, reflections, contemplations, asking questions and answering thoughts.
A few years ago I started writing a story: Quiet White – Q. Two thirds of the way through I realised something else had to come first – the story I had been telling to hundreds of primary school children whilst I travelled around as a Supply Teacher. I can tell you, there is little better for a storyteller than to sense her audience sitting at the edge of their seats, caught up in the adventure, and then hearing that collective inhalation of breath when she stops speaking because it is the children’s turn to do something:
“But you will tell is what happens, won’t you?” was their plaintive cry. Of course I knew I would not be; the day would be filled with all sorts of other things that had to be done.
The children then started asking: “Have you got the book?” to which I always had to reply, “No.” Then I began thinking, why not? So my reply became, “Not yet.” In 2013 I began to say, “Yes!”

I am a self-taught artist, well almost self-taught. Keen to develop my skills I have enjoyed several evening and afternoon classes using watercolours and oils.
In 2006 I started exhibiting and selling my art work to the public. I use oils, acrylics, watercolours and mixed media – experimenting with a range of materials. I enjoy creating a spectrum of images and pictures: plants, land and seascapes from observation and my imagination. I have also painted a number of portraits and religious icons. I have illustrated my books.

I love gardening and have been creating interesting ‘corners’, thought provoking places to linger in.

Storyteller…artist…forgot to mention conversationalist, listener, and most of all, friend.