Sarah Acton was the Quay Words writer-in-residence for the Summer 2024 ‘Vessels’ season. Sarah approached our Vessels theme through the lens of body – Bodies of Water/ Vessel of Message. Virginia Woolf said that when walking, ‘my story would begin telling itself,’ walking the streets of London to generate dynamic language, characters and plots. Perhaps…

Billy Kahora was the Quay Words writer-in-residence at Exeter Custom House for Spring 2024. Here are his thoughts being selected for the residency: “I can’t thank Literature Works enough for this opportunity which will continue rooting my writing in the South West while also helping me stay in touch with that of the African continent…

Quay Words are pleased to announce Olive Olusegun as our visiting international writer-in-residence in March 2024, in partnership with Poetry Africa. Olive will be spending a week at Exeter Custom House, engaging in public events, collaborating with the spring Quay Words writer-in-residence, and exploring our season theme of heritage in relation to her research interests….

We’re pleased to announce that our season theme this October and November is nature. For our writer residency we’ll be teaming up with the fantastic Little Toller Books, and welcoming author William Henry Searle to Exeter Custom House to be in-residence for the season. Will’s new nature memoir Elowen is out now with Little Toller. Whilst in residence Will will…

Kim Squirrell was our Quay Words writer-in-residence at Exeter Custom House for the month of July, focusing on the theme of Maritime.As part of her residency, she has created a poetry & paper art trail around the Quayside and Canal Basin, which celebrates the ships and boats that have sailed into and out of Exeter,…

Davina Quinlivan was the shared writer-in-residence for Quay Words and the Devon and Exeter Institution in March and April 2023, focusing on the theme of Threads.Davina spent time at both venues, diving into Exeter’s rich textile history and present day connections, as well as delivering workshops and events for the public. Beginning her residency, Davina…

Alice Albinia was our writer-in-residence at Exeter Custom House for Autumn 2022. Alice embarked on her next new literary project during her time as resident, which draws on Exeter’s own heritage of trade, making use of the city’s archives to research her new work. She also shared her recent writing on Britain’s islands with us…

Sophie Dumont was our Quay Words writer-in-residence at Exeter Custom House in July 2022. The season theme was ‘Maritime’. Sophie explored and researching Exeter’s maritime past, and contrasting how the Quay is used today. She dug out maps and charts from the city’s archives and took inspiration from people still using watercraft on the river….

Ellen Wiles joined Quay Words as the Spring 2022 writer-in-residence at Exeter Custom House, to explore our Spring Season science theme. Ellen was in residence during March-April 2022. She led a creative writing-walking workshop for families, hosted a conversation with scientists on Climate Science and Creativity and created a new piece of writing presented as…

Louisa’s ‘Reimagining Heritage’ writer residency for the Quay Words Autumn season picked up on her work as the first ever Quay Words writer-in-residence back in 2019.  Continuing with themes of heritage, place, and the stories of diverse voices, Louisa supported writers to tell their own and/or seek out the diverse stories of others with a…