Jane Sharkey
Walking, island life and creative reflections from Lundy and beyond
From an Island in the Bristol Channel to Portugal and places in between. I write about the small things that make wild places unforgettable.
Welcome to Stories from Lundy and Beyond
Hi, I’m Jane. I live and work on Lundy, where walking, wildlife and island life inspire my writing. In this journal, I share stories from the island, alongside my adventures renovating a house in Portugal and exploring life as a walking artist. If you’re new here, start with my latest posts. Or you can check out my social media posts
Findings: Looking Out from the Old Light
Inspired by Kathleen Jamie’s Findings, I head up Beacon Hill and climb to the top of Lundy’s Old Light. From the Atlantic horizon to the tiny tracks left by people and animals, I discover that even a familiar island has plenty more to reveal when you stop, turn your chair and look again.
Two Years, One Portuguese House and a Lot of Unexpected Work
Two years ago we bought an old house in central Portugal with a vision for what it could become. Two years, plenty of unexpected costs, storms, building work and a lot of patience later, we’re finally starting to see that vision take shape.
Traitors on Lundy
By the time you read this, The Celebrity Traitors finale will have concluded. Ten episodes of cloaks, candlelit round tables, murders in plain sight and people lying
Island inspired Crafting
ideas from island life drift into small pieces of work — baskets woven from ghost gear, linocuts of puffins and seals. A few of them live here.
Lundy Postcard Project: Exhibition and PDF Book
Many Lundy visitors participated in the Postcard project, resulting in 80 responses. The postcards were exhibited at St Helens Church Lundy, and compiled into a PDF book accessible to all. The book allows viewers to revisit the postcards and potentially find their own contribution.
Creating Art with Nature on Lundy
Weaving in the trees creating art that others might see and consider who made it and why?
Representing Lundy at the Created Festival, The Big Sheep
Representing Lundy Island at the Created Festival at The Big Sheep. This is a North Devon craft and art event. It celebrates creativity, landscape, and local makers.
Midsummer on Lundy
On Midsummer's evening we wandered between seven of Lundy's ancient standing stones. Along the way we read haikus written by previous visitors, imagined Bronze Age picnics, made tiny prints from the stones.
Round the Island trip
A great opportunity to take a trip on the Island RIB - seeing the island from the sea and experiencing the Races.
Jubilee Pool, Penzance
Enjoying some hot and cold therapy with the Pool temperature at 17 degrees
and the geo-thermal pool at 32 degrees.