Botanical artist turns her hand to poetry
A BOTANICAL artist has published a book of pandemic poetry.
Lorna Minton, from Twyford, released Poetry and Painting in the Pandemic in November 2021. The limited print run of 100 sold out and the book is being reprinted to meet demand.
“I’m very surprised as I had no intention of turning my poems into a book,” Lorna says.
“My family persuaded me to print so many and I thought I would end up with lots left over.
“Now there is a waiting list.”
Her work as a botanical artist has gained Lorna several Royal Horticultural Society medals, including gold, for her paintings.
Poetry is a hobby she returned too when the pandemic began as a way to record what was happening.
Since then, several of her poems have been published in Wokingham Today and Reading Today.
The poems in the book cover the period from March 2020 to late summer 2021.
Each is accompanied by a piece of Lorna’s botanical art, some of which she painted during lockdowns.
Lorna explains that she “writes poetry about current events in a narrative style” as a way to respond to events.
“The reasons that people have bought the book are because they like my artwork, or that they like poetry, or that they just want to remember what has happened over the past couple of years.
“Some have told me that they had forgotten about the events I talk about in some of the poems.
“I did not think that my poetry would be a part of helping people to think about the pandemic.”
■ Poetry and Paintings in the Pandemic costs £17.50 and is available from HF Newberry on London Road in Twyford or from: lornaminton.com