Staff profile

I am a writer and museum professional interested in the intersection between material culture, historical narratives, and marginalised perspectives. I spent over a decade working in museums and arts organisations in the UK and Germany before completing an MA in Creative Writing at Durham University in 2021. My academic research has focused on the presentation and stewardship of historical art collections during a time of rapid change across the museum sector, and approaches to embedding period detail in literary fiction. 

My current research explores the potential of creative texts as supplementary interpretation in museum collections. Conventional, short-form museum interpretation is bound by a number of practical and pedagogical considerations which preclude a nuanced approach to sensitive issues. For objects with unknown provenance and/or contested histories, an additional layer of creative interpretation allows for a deeper engagement with complex themes such as the legacies of colonialism, historical bias, unethical collecting and collections management practices, and the influence of political conflict on the composition of museum collections.

I completed a BA in Art History with a minor in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Carleton College, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Art Conservation at SACI Florence, and an MA in Art Museum and Gallery Studies at Newcastle University. My fiction and creative nonfiction have been published in anthologies and magazines, and my work was longlisted for the 2023 Historical Writers’ Association/Dorothy Dunnett Society Short Story Award.

I welcome opportunities to collaborate and converse with other creatives and cultural institutions.

Research Interests:

Material culture

Historical narratives

Museum interpretation

Museum representation

Creative writing practice

Decolonisation

Teaching:

Romance and the Literature of Chivalry (Teaching Assistant, English Studies)

2023-present

Debating Museums and Heritage (Contributing Lecturer, Museum and Artefact Studies)

2023-present

Esteem Indicators:

2023: Faculty of Arts and Humanities Postgraduate Research Award | Durham University

2022: Ustinov College Travel Award | Durham University

2022: Durham Doctoral Studentship (Peace and Trust) | Durham University

Professional memberships:

International Council of Museums

Museums Association

Additional roles:

PhD Representative | Student Voice Committee | Department of English Studies | Durham University

2023-present

Volunteer Guide | Raby Castle 

2021-present

Coordinating Committee | Visual Intersections Summer School | Centre for Visual Arts and Cultures | Durham University 

2023