Fire River Poets Presents: Anthony Watts and Jane Lovell
Fire River Poets are delighted to welcome two distinctive and accomplished poets, Anthony Watts and Jane Lovell, for a special evening of poetry. Join us for an inspiring celebration of two very different but equally compelling poetic voices, exploring landscape, nature, memory and our relationship with the world around us.
Anthony Watts
Although a Londoner by birth, Anthony Watts has lived in rural Somerset for most of his life, and its varying terrains – from the Quantock Hills to the Levels – have informed much of his poetry.
Upon his retirement from local government in 2003, Anthony held the distinction of being Somerset County Library’s longest-serving member. He is also a founder member of Fire River Poets, where he remains a regular participant in the monthly open mics.
Anthony’s latest collection, Stiles, is published by Paekakariki Press. His other collections include The Talking Horses of Dreams (Iron Press) and The Shell-Gatherer (Oversteps).
His poetry has enjoyed considerable success in competitions, with 28 First Prizes to his name, as well as being longlisted for the National Poetry Competition in 2014. His poems have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies.
Anthony’s interests include poetry, music, nature and “binge thinking”.
Jane Lovell
Jane Lovell, winner of the Ginkgo Prize, explores humanity’s complex relationship with nature – its beauty, fragility and resilience.
Her latest collection, Tipping Point, was shortlisted for the prestigious 2026 Laurel Prize. The collection draws on subjects ranging from polar exploration and ancestral traditions to ecological change, examining the ways in which human lives are connected to the natural world.
Jane lives on the edge of the Valley of Rocks and writes extensively about Exmoor, its distinctive landscapes and its birdlife. Her poetry reflects a close and thoughtful engagement with place, while also asking wider questions about our responsibilities to the environment and the changing world we inhabit.
An Evening of Poetry
This Fire River Poets event brings together two poets with a strong connection to landscape and nature, yet with distinctive perspectives and poetic voices.
From Anthony Watts’s intimate engagement with the Somerset countryside, shaped by a lifetime spent among its hills, levels and communities, to Jane Lovell’s powerful exploration of ecological change, Exmoor and humanity’s relationship with the natural world, the evening promises a rich and varied programme of poetry.
Whether you are a regular poetry reader, a practising writer, or simply curious about contemporary poetry, we invite you to join us for an enjoyable evening of readings, conversation and a shared appreciation of the written word.
All are welcome.