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Walkers in the Peak District

ONE OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE’S GREAT POETRY TALENTS: HELEN MORT

Published 20 September 2022 at 9:00am

South Yorkshire has a wealth of artistic talent in all areas including music, dance, literature and artwork creation. One person who our region is very proud to celebrate is Helen Mort, a skilled local poet and novelist with a natural ability to capture the true essence of South Yorkshire.  And she has shown her skills and talents recently by creating a poetic narrative for a new South Yorkshire showreel.



This is a short film, which demonstrates the many different aspects of living in our region, from its industrial past to its innovation in the latest technology, whilst being rich and diverse in arts, culture and heritage.  The film, which is also narrated by Helen, will be showcased to investors and businesses in the USA, India and other countries across the globe.

So who exactly is Helen Mort?

Helen Mort, who is based Sheffield, became the youngest ever poet-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust in 2010.  She subsequently became a five-time winner of the Foyle Young Poets award. She received an Eric Gregory Award from The Society of Authors in 2007, and won the Manchester Poetry Prize Young Writer Prize in 2008. In 2014 she came back to her roots to complete her Doctorate at Sheffield University, with a PhD thesis in English/Neuroscience.

She has published two poetry collections. This includes Division Street, which was shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards and the T.S Eliot Prize.

These poems, which catalogue everything from the clash between striking miners and police to the delicate conflicts in personal relationships, are named after a well known Sheffield street and clearly demonstrate how even amongst conflict, a moment of reconciliation can be born.

Helen appears regularly on BBC radio and on TV and has taught creative writing for over ten years as a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. She also offers freelance mentoring and runs workshops, as well as being a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

According to Dame Carol Ann Duffy, a British Poet and Playwright, “Helen Mort is among the brightest stars in the sparkling new constellation of British poets who is keen to pass on her expertise and knowledge to aspiring new writers.”

In 2018 Helen was selected by Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature for its ’40 under 40’ initiative.

When she’s not writing, Helen is a mum, step parent, runner and climber who, as well as spending much of her time in South Yorkshire, enjoys relaxing in the Peak District.

For more details on Helen’s work visit helenmort.com

For more information about arts and culture in South Yorkshire visit our Arts, Culture and Heritage page.

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Last Updated: 21/09/2022

Published In: Arts, Culture, Heritage , Featured