Seeing Poetry: Poetry in Words and Comics
Seeing Poetry began as a collaboration between acclaimed poet Clare Shaw (Bloodaxe 2006, 2012) and illustrator Louise Crosby.
Louise illustrates poetry by Clare Shaw in comics form. Her illustrations were first designed as single spreads to be shown in exhibitions; these are now being reworked to book format.
In Spring 2014 they were awarded a grant from Arts Council England. This has enabled them to develop the comics, produce mini books, plan workshops and develop this website which includes a webcomic.
Poem from a Bus Shelter was our first mini book which was launched in July 2014. She waited half her life to write this followed in Nov 2014. They are presently seeking a publisher for a full-length poetry comics book.
Louise and Clare have appeared together as “Seeing Poetry” at Arts and Literature festivals and other forums. “Seeing Poetry” events feature a poetry reading, with an illustrated talk about the project and an accompanying exhibition. They are also able to deliver writing and illustration workshops together as “Seeing Poetry” or individually in their own disciplines.
LOUISE CROSBY
Louise is an illustrator, printmaker and poet. As a printmaker, she first collaborated with Clare by using single lines from Clare’s poetry as the inspiration for etchings. After completing an MA in Digital Image and Media at Bolton University in 2008, she began to use Adobe Illustrator. This digital technique made it easier to illustrate the whole poem as a series of pictures with text – an accidental start to drawing comics. Since then Louise has found it fascinating to explore the comics art form in more detail – especially its use to illustrate poetry.
Louise delivers a variety of workshops for both children and adults. Her workshops specialise in illustrating literature, especially poems. This includes large scale comics for wall display. She also delivers workshops on graphic memoir and issue-based comics.
Louise helps run LDComics and used to ruin a branch in Leeds. LDComics is a graphic novel forum with a focus on comic works based on life narrative, the drama of the domestic and the everyday. She chaired the Diversity in Comics panel at Thought Bubble 2013 & 2014.
She has started to illustrate her own writing and produced some mini riso poetry books. She has designed a range of comic sketch books which she sells at comics events.
In 2013 she worked in collaboration with a scientist to produce ‘Squashed Tomatoes’ for ‘Asteroid Belter’ a Newcastle Science Comic for 8-13yr olds for the British Science Festival 2013.
Louise has a studio in Hebden Bridge and takes part in Hebden Bridge Open Studios annual event.
