Welcome to the Deep Woods!
A space to explore wonder, the wild and our creativity.
Wildness and creative practice, the two are intertwined. I’m a little obsessed with this idea and it’s what I write about here.
For almost all of our history we’ve lived alongside the wild. We’re held by it, part of it. For almost all of our history we’ve created. We carved, sculpted and drew before we used language. Our creativity is what defines us, it’s what is still wild inside us and it’s inspired by what’s wild around us. This is a space dedicated to the exploration of that creativity and wildness.
I recently published a book about wildness. It’s called Two Lights, which is a reference to twilight, that time of two lights - the light of day and the light of night. It’s when we’re most creative, when we’re most receptive to wonder, the time we’re most connected to the ground beneath our feet and the sky overhead. The book was long listed for the RSL Ondaatje Prize.
Into the Deep Woods now has over 80 stories in the archive, which is another book, all about wonder and the wild. More are added each week.
I write from my studio in Wales, which, though a small country, is a place of mountains, rivers and seas, perched on the edge of the Atlantic, a wilderness of water and air.
Who is James Roberts?
I’m a writer and artist, maker, and lover of wild things. I’ve been an editor, art director, designer, animator, dramatist, technologist and all-round creative. I’m a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts. My writing has been published in many literary journals and magazines as well as mainstream publications like National Geographic and The Scotsman. My paintings have featured on book and magazine covers as well as stage sets. I’ve been interviewed several times on BBC radio as well as for academic institutions. I’ve done many talks and readings at universities, bookshops and galleries.
I’m a father, a son, a husband, a brother and a friend. I love dogs, horses, slow boats, blueberries, clotted cream, Staffordshire oat cakes, hibiscus flowers, the colour teal, crackle glazes and Indian ink. I walk a lot and spend as much time as I can staring at stars, rivers, seas and trees. I can’t imagine living in a world without kingfishers and robins, salmon and lionfish, red admiral butterflies and luna moths. That’s who I am. Good to meet you!
What and when:
I’ll be posting twice weekly - little wanderings and foragings into our creative nature and inner wilds. I’ll be visiting new places, climbing hills, watching birds, following herds of wild ponies, writing about my own creative practice and the work of other artists, writers and craftspeople.
I’ll be sharing my new pieces of art, illustrations, and poems.
I’ll be sharing occasional videos, sound recordings and audio episodes.
You’ll get discounts on new artwork, prints, and publications from my gallery and website.
I’ll host occasional discussions on writing and art for the wild, and how best to create and propagate wonder.
I do this work because it’s necessary at a time when wild beings and places need us as much as we need them, when we need to create new ways of thinking and living. I hope you’ll join me.
If a paid subscription is not possible for you, and you’d like access to the archive, please email me at james@nightriverwood.com. I’ll provide free access for 3 months.
