BRANTWOOD has appointed its first writer-in-residence.

Geraldine Green opens a fabulous fresh chapter for the inspiring historic house overlooking Coniston Water which was John Ruskin's home for the last 28 years of his life, and is filled with many fine paintings, beautiful furniture and personal treasures that retain the character of its famous Victorian resident.

Her 12-month residency starts in September and builds on the interest generated by Geraldine’s popular creative writing courses she's held at Brantwood for the past four years.

The gifted Ulverston-based writer says it's an exciting new venture and one she's really looking forward to: "It’s a great honour to be exploring, reflecting and writing in response to this role," adds Geraldine. "John Ruskin’s vision and understanding of the importance of nature and creativity to the human spirit is as relevant today - perhaps more so - than when Ruskin first uttered the words, 'nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty if only we have the eyes to see them.'”

Geraldine has two poetry collections and four chapbooks under her literary belt and her work features in anthologies in the UK and America. Her latest Salt Road, published by Indigo Dreams, explores, through poetry and prose, her home ground of the Furness peninsula. The collection also celebrates her travels to North America, Spain, Greece and Turkey.

Her latest chapbook A Wing and A Prayer was written in response to her post as writer-in-residence at Swarthmoor Hall, near Ulverston, the birthplace of Quakerism, and was published in 2015 by Swarthmoor Hall Press.

In 2011 Geraldine gained a PhD from Lancaster University in creative writing and now an experienced creative writing tutor and mentor as well as associate editor of online magazine Poetry Bay www.poetrybay.com.

During her Brantwood residency she'll be running Writer’s Retreat with co-tutor Pippa Little from October 19-22 as well as a creative writing course with American poet George Wallace in June 2016.

Brantwood’s director Howard Hull said that Ruskin was the most gifted and poetic of writers. He added: "He not only made his living from words, he made words live. It is long overdue that Brantwood should have a writer in residence and I am absolutely delighted to that Geraldine is to be our first."

Meanwhile, A Lakeland Diary: Photographs by Alexander Curtis is on display in Brantwood's Blue Gallery until October 19.

Alexander is an artist/film maker who regularly works in mixed media, including photography. To capture elements of 'deep time' and sense of place, he makes his own cameras which use prisms and filters to create archetypal images.

Alexander not only has a long-standing connection to the Lake District but also with the sea.

Brantwood is open 10.30am-5pm.

Telephone 015394-41396.