Sheenagh Pugh

Sheenagh Pugh was the winner of the Forward Prize for best poem of 1998 and was the winner of The Cardiff International Poetry Prize twice.

She says: “I have been accused of being "populist" and "too accessible", both of which I hope are true.”

To read two poems from her most recent collection (Afternoons Go Nowhere) visit here.

What is your favourite quotation?
"It is the proof of intelligence, the proof of not being a barbarian, to be able to enter into something outside of oneself, something that does not touch one's next neighbour in the city omnibus" -  R.L. Stevenson, "Vailima Letters" 

What is your idea of beauty in art? 
“Dufy's 'Deauville', Kandinsky's 'Riding Couple', basically any painting whose frame I'd like to step inside.”   

What is your idea of beauty in nature?
“Big sky, sea, not too many trees.”   

What's your favourite food and drink?
“Cake and tea.” 

What's your favourite comedian or comedy actor?
“Dan Leno, though I never saw him onstage as he died long before I was born. He left a book and was clearly completely off the wall.” 

What's your favourite poem?
“Too many, really, but either "Penllain" by Paul Henry or "Arboretum" by Louise Glück.” 

What's your favourite smell?
“The sea.” 

What's your favourite City?
“Trondheim, closely followed by Vancouver.” 

What's your favourite animal?
“Cats.” 

What's your favourite mode of transport?
“Teleport, if it only existed. Otherwise train. I love being in new places but hate getting there.” 

What's your favourite novel?
“Again too many and it changes. But quite often, "A Place of Greater Safety" by Hilary Mantel.”