Dr Luke Thompson

Course Leader, MA Professional Writing

Luke is a writer of poetry and non-fiction and the founding editor of Guillemot Press. His interests include print production, small press publishing, creative non-fiction, biography, human-animal relationships, environmental literature, poetry and South West writers. 

Luke's books include poetry titles Singing About Melon (Shearsman, 2020), Robot Squirrel (zimZalla, 2017) and the clearing (Atlantic, 2016), and non-fiction titles Rhinoceros (Broken Sleep, 2020) and Clay Phoenix (Ally, 2016). Luke has also edited a range of books, including Jack Clemo's Selected Poems (Enitharmon, 2015), A Proper Mizz-Maze (Francis Boutle, 2016) and Tree Tales (Common Ground, 2016), and more than fifty titles for Guillemot Press. Other projects include a series of works around the conservation of the European eel, which has so far led to a series of poetry, fiction, non-fiction and illustration publications, as well as events at the European Parliament, the Natural History Museum and the New Networks for Nature. Luke also plays with printmaking, creating performative projects such as the laser-printed Phonetic Ouija Board for sound poetry, a letterpress contribution to the Yellow Book exhibition, and the bespoke mouth pamphlet.

In 2016 Luke founded Guillemot Press, alongside the poet Sarah Cave, publishing books by a broad range of both new and award-winning writers, including Rosmarie Waldrop, Robert Lax, David Harsent, Rebecca Goss, Tania Hershman, John F Deane, Astra Papachristodoulou, Adam Marek, David Constantine, Jessie Greengrass, Carys Davies, Petero Kalulé, and many, many more. Guillemot Press books have received awards for design, illustration, poetry and publishing.

As well as books and publications, Luke has recently enjoyed curating exhibitions, developing archives, organising events and performing at festivals. Recent media appearances have included Radio 4's Poetry Please and BBC 1's Inside Out.

External Links

Contact details

Telephone 01326 255705
Email luke.thompson@falmouth.ac.uk

    Qualifications

    Qualifications

    Year Qualification Awarding body
    2016 PhD University of Exeter (Streatham)
    2010 MA University of Exeter (Penryn)
    2006 BA University of Wales, Lampeter

    Research Interests

    Research interests and expertise

    Poetry, publishing, South West literature, environmental literature, biography, short fiction, landscape, nature and place.

    Research Outputs

    Publications and research outputs

    • Menmuir, Wyl

      (2017), In Dark Places, National Trust Books, London, UK, ISBN: 978-0707804422, Item availability may be restricted.

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2016), The Clearing, Atlantic Press Ltd, Penryn, Cornwall, ISBN: 978-0-9571549-8-8

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2016), Clay Phoenix: a biography of Jack Clemo, Ally Press, London, ISBN: 9780993473494, Item availability may be restricted.

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2016), The Clearing, Atlantic Press, Cornwall, ISBN: 9780957154988, Item availability may be restricted.

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2015), Jack Clemo: Selected Poems, Enitharmon, London, ISBN: 9781910392065, (Published), Item availability may be restricted.

    • Loydell, Rupert

      (2017), 'Admissable Evidence', in Triptychs, In: Triptychs, Guillemot Press, Cornwall, ISBN: None

    • Causley, Jim

      (2016), Clay Hymnal, (Published)

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2016), Guillemot Press

    • Thompson, Luke

      (2014), Charles Causley and Jack Clemo, Falmouth, (Published)

    Externally funded research grants information

    Collaborators Currency Funder HESA Category Project title Value Year ending Year starting
    GBP AHRC PhD 54000 2015 2012

    Teaching

    Courses taught

    • Professional Writing MA

    Professional Engagement

    Social, community and cultural engagement

    Exhibitions:
    Wheal Martyn, 2013, 2016
    Terre Verte Gallery, 2016

    Workshops:
    Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival, 2016
    Wheal Martyn, 2015, 2016
    Endelienta, 2016
    Truro School, 2016
    Screech Owl Sanctuary, 2016

    Festivals:
    Charles Causley Festival, 2015
    Fowey Festival of Arts, 2015
    Penzance Literary Festival, 2016
    Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival, 2016
    Port Eliot Festival, 2016
    Newlyn Arts Festival, 2016 
    Cornwall Contemporary Poetry Festival, 2016

    Other Talks include:
    Guest Speaker: Arts Centre Group, London, 2016
    Guest Speaker: Heritage Ability, 2016
    Unencompassing the Archipelago, Oxford, 2015

    Radio & Television
    BBC Radio 4, Poetry Please, 2016
    BBC One, Inside Out, 2016
    Regional radio: BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Cornwall, numerous community shows.
    Poet: appearance in Jane Darke's documentary film on Charles Causley. (Numerous public performances. Television debut tbc.)

    I have also done some work with charities, including The Sensory Trust and Heritage Ability.