In October 2014, we will be running workshops in local primary and secondary schools, with support from the Royal Cornwall Museum and our own undergraduates, with a focus on art and creative writing.

At primary level, we will be focussing on two key themes: ‘Familiar Faces’ (to complement Dr McInnes’ talk on portraiture) and ‘A Walk in the Country’ (to go with Dr Stokes’ talk on literature and landscape).

To give you a flavour of our work, here are some key descriptive phrases to inspire artistic and creative work:

Familiar Faces: sad, steady, light-brown eyes; the gallant poise of the head; cadaverous silence, quite catacombish; What fun it was, what mad ridiculous childish fun! The face of an exulting devil. The same picture, the same dress.

A Walk in the Country:

‘up the Mountain’s craggy side / We climb: how beautiful, how still, how clear, / The scenes that stretch around’; ‘The sheeted goblins still appear: / And many a hallow’d hill displays / The stony circle’s mystic ways’

At secondary level, we will be focussing on the themes, ‘Chasing Pavements’ and ‘Wandering and Urban Identity’ (to echo Dr Hext’s work on crowds and cities) and ‘All at Sea’ and ‘Coastal Communities and the Sea’ (to work with Dr Preedy’s talk on shipwreck and piracy).

At secondary level, we will be exploring the texts, Rambles Beyond Railways by Wilkie Collins and Sir Walter Ralegh’s Ocean to Cynthia.