Meet the lost historian
I bring a new way of exploring hidden histories to your collections and audiences
Multidimensional storytelling
To mark the publication of my novel The Girl in the Locket and the accompanying documentary, in 2027 I will be partnering with museums, galleries, heritage sites and cultural organisations across the UK.
Through an Arts Council-funded programme of talks, film screenings and creative workshops, I will invite audiences to explore for themselves the stories that history left untold.
Author talk
How do you imagine a life that barely left a trace?
This is a talk of three parts.
To start, I take audiences into the secret corners of our archives, revealing the traces of lost Tudor lives that inspired The Girl in the Locket – from an embroidery of a Black child balancing a music book on his head to a bored royal servant's doodle of a skull nibbling a bone.
Next I discuss my unique artistic collaboration with artist Curtis Holder and conservator Alan Derbyshire to paint the Tudor portrait miniature of a young Black woman at the heart of my novel.
The talk culminates with a screening of Imagining Lost Histories – a short documentary film about the making of the miniature – and a Q&A session.
Length: 60-90 minutes
Maximum participants: unlimited
To enrich the talk, I bring with me both the finished portrait miniature and the traditional Tudor materials used to create it.
If preferred, this can be adapted to an "in conversation" event with a curator or host.
Creative Writing Workshops
The stories inside things
Drawing on the creative process behind The Girl in the Locket, I offer creative writing workshops that use objects or portraits as a starting point for stories.
I tailor my workshops to your audience – either inviting a fresh look at a museum or heritage collection, or empowering participants in community settings to write about the stories held within a treasured object of their own.
Length: Typically 3.5 hours
Maximum participants: 20
If you’d prefer a different length or have a specific group in mind, I’m happy to discuss a bespoke workshop.
Testimonials from cultural partners
“Joanne was a fantastic addition to the Holburne’s public engagement programme. She approached our collection with real care and curiosity, and her creative‑writing‑led sessions brought a fresh and engaging perspective. I especially loved the way she encouraged participants to write about objects of their own as well as pieces from our galleries - it created a thoughtful and memorable connection between past and present.”
Spencer Hancock, Head of Visitor Operations at The Holburne Museum
“Joanne’s creative writing workshop felt distinctive and special. As a curator, I was struck by how the gentle writing exercises and visual craft activities offered participants different ways into artworks, encouraging creativity, empathy and curiosity. Joanne enabled us to interpret a historic collection in our own ways, and to uncover - and share - surprising, varied stories about the possible lives behind the art.
Helen Coby, Curator at Bath Spa University“An electrifying approach to co-creation. Joanne got our residents to engage with historical portraits in a way we’d never seen before. By inviting them to draw on their own lives in order to imagine the histories of unknown sitters, she created a sense that the past was close enough to know and touch. Genuinely moving.”
Charlotte Morley, Studio Manager at Emerge StudiosTestimonials from workshop participants
I’d always loved my mum’s old charm bracelet, but had never really contemplated why it meant so much to me. You created a really warm environment, and having the chance to sit down and write about it with your expert support was such a powerful experience - thank you.”
Toby Farrow, 2026I really liked how the creative writing exercises in this workshop built together. The whole session has been delightful, challenging and surprising.”
Lynnie Burkinshaw Donkin, 2026“Joanne is inspirational, quietly nurturing and supportive, plus extremely talented too.”
Cath Rapley, 2025
Practical details
VENUES
Ideal for museums, galleries, heritage sites, community organisations, libraries, educational organisations.
AUDIENCE
Adaptable for adults, young people (14+), mixed-age audiences, writers and non-writers, and community groups.
AVAILABILITY
Available across the UK, from June 2027
PRICING
Talk & workshop package: £800
Talks and workshops can be booked separately, and bespoke packages are also possible on request.
Thanks to Arts Council England funding, some subsidised talks and workshops are available.
If your organisation is based in an under-served area, if you’re working to reach audiences who don't usually engage with arts and culture, or if price is a barrier, I’d be delighted to discuss using these funds to partner with you. Please get in touch.
