Stephen

‘Growing up in Northern Ireland, especially rural Ireland, was quite isolating with limited opportunities, so Scotland always looked like this beacon of freedom for me to aspire to, and education was the way for me to get here.

Right now I’m working on a monograph about early cinema in Scotland, with a particular focus on colour. I started the Summerhall Writing Group the same week I got the contract; it gave me a sense of encouragement and I felt emboldened.

Edinburgh’s always had this strange pull for me, I guess. Whenever I go to a museum, if it’s quiet, sometimes it feels like that pressure of time relentlessly moving forward pauses a little bit, because you’re surrounded by things that are literally frozen in time.’

Stephen

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