Reading as a Writer 2:

‘The Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ (Agatha Christie) & ‘Clouds of Witness’ (Dorothy L. Sayers)

June 2026 marks the centenary of the publication of these two novels by the Queens of Crime. We investigate both for clues to writing detective fiction.

The programme is designed for beginners and more advanced writers, for those who enjoy writing as a hobby and those who hope to be published. All workshops are standalone so that you can attend as many as you like.

Reading the novels for the ‘Reading as a Writer’ sessions is recommended. The focus here is on what we can learn from these novels as writers.

All other workshops include time for writing with the option of constructive peer feedback. If purchasing books, please support indie bookshops such as Little Owls

Bookshop in Caistor.

Gillian Poucher is the author of three novels ‘After The Funeral’, ‘A Question of Loyalty’ and ‘Vision of Light.’ Her writing is partly inspired by Lincolnshire and its history.

Bookings can be made at the Centre, or via Eventbrite.

Sarah is a local artist from Lincoln, she works mainly in soft pastels. Her work is of surrounding countryside and skyscapes but also The Bailgate, Lincoln.

Charles is 31 years old and lives in his own home with 2 supporters 24/7. He has autism, but is mainly hampered neurologically by a body that is unable to be fully controlled by his brain due to a brain/body disconnect.  He requires help to remain regulated as it is a struggle for him to control his body. He has tutors coming into his own home to support him with sewing and painting.  He also does various things for charity and makes bags etc for hospitals. He gets great pleasure from the work he does and it does a world of good to his self esteem.

He has just recently had a painting selected for an exhibition in at Sheffield Millennium Gallery.  This was a project put together by Artworks Together and it was an international competition for people with autism with or without learning difficulties and those with learning difficulties.  He also won one of 5 awards.  His award for the category for Colour Brilliance.

Charles’ business, ‘Crazy Crafts’, is not for profit, but enables him to provide materials to work with and therefore able to continue to learn and take pleasure in what he does.

This exhibition runs from 20th March to 27th April. All work is available for purchase.

Helen is a mixed-media artist whose work explores the interplay of texture, colour and experience.  After a career in the civil service that took her across the globe, Helen has spent nearly two decades inspiring creativity in others, firstly as a school teacher and, in recent years, an art workshop educator.  These experiences, both professional and personal have shaped her artistic voice – one rooted in curiosity, experimentation and a deep appreciation for the world around her.

Helen’s art practice is defined by her love of discovery.  She delights in experimenting with collage, hand-decorated papers, gold leaf, acrylics and inks, often working in her signature palette of turquoise and gold.  Each piece is a layered composition, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and discover new depths with every glance.  Her debut solo exhibition, “First of Many Layers,” brings together abstract forms, satellite-inspired land and seascapes and layered pieces that embrace the wonder of nature, reflecting her fascination with both the vastness as well as the intimate details found in the world around her.

Environmental consciousness is incorporated into Helen’s practice.  Many of her works are created on upcycled canvases and materials, giving new life to objects that carry their own stories and layers of history.  This commitment to renewal and transformation echoes her belief in the beauty of change and the power of reinvention.

Outside the studio, Helen finds endless inspiration in the outdoors.  She relishes exploring woods and landscapes with her husband and their dogs, capturing fleeting moments – a colourful leaf, cluster of apple blossom or intriguing bark pattern – with her camera.  Her love of birds and the music of bird song are a constant source of joy and creative spark, often weaving their way into her work.  These observations fuel her creative process, infusing her work with a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world.

“First of Many Layers” is both a beginning and a culmination – a celebration of how experiences and memories build upon one another to create something new.  Helen invites you to journey through her collection, to pause, reflect and perhaps discover your own layers within the art.

Martha's Poetry & Performance Evening is back! This will be the third - and Martha says the final - poetry and performance evening she has put on. Halloween won't be far away so we expect this one to be a bit spookier than usual. Both of the previous evenings have been huge fun. Will we ever forget Nell Armstrong, the first woman to land on the moon? Or Martha's Blind Date? This time Martha will be competing to win the coveted gold crown and be voted QUEEN GIRL-RILLA but the competition is cut-throat and only the audience and NICK NACK can decide the winner! 

The wonderful CATHERINE SCOTT will be back with her uniquely funny take on life and there will be music from HEATHER McSHARRY and Caistor's very own BELLA MAMAS. If you missed the first two poetry & performance evenings, don't miss out for a third time! It's free, fun and on a Friday!

Lamorna’s exhibition is on from the Friday 19th September until Saturday 15th November 2025.

“Wool in The Wolds” is Lamorna’s first solo exhibition - a collection of both 2D and 3D creations to show many different ways of using wool with other fibres such as mulberry bark, woven linen and sari silk offcuts. The inspiration for this creative wealth has been the move North to live in The Lincolnshire Wolds (and build her own garden). As with many artists, the big skies in this open landscape have a lot to do with stimulating her artistic expression. The geology and agriculture of The Wolds also play a part in the development of her work. 

This collection of works hopefully inspires you to create felted objects and wall hangings that display the wonder of nature and The Lincolnshire Wolds, feeding the awe you have for our environment into the things you can make. 

You are most welcome to join Lamorna at her preview evening on Thursday 18th September between 6pm & 8pm

Learn the ancient craft of wet felting - working wool fibres with warm soapy water to create an heirloom piece of art to grace your home. Join artist Lamorna Thomas to make an A4 sized wall hanging. No previous felting experience necessary.  

Multiple dates to choose from: Sat 27 Sept, Wed 1 Oct, Sat 11 Oct, Wed 5 Nov, Sat 15 Nov 

10am-12.30pm, £30 per workshop: all materials included 

The Pleasurable Painting Group was formed in 2016 and was originally led by Mags Bradley. They are mainly local amateurs who get together purely for the pleasure of painting, as the name suggests.   In the beginning, they met at the Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre, but their numbers increased so much, that they later had to move to a larger venue. They now meet at the Town Hall.   

The artists bring their own ideas to the sessions and members have developed their individual styles and approaches. Most people work in watercolour, but they may also use some acrylics, oils or pastels. Experimentation with different media is part of the fun! It is interesting for each of the artists to hear someone else’s opinions of their work, and they support each other with feedback and helpful suggestions. 

On Thursday the 18th September between 6pm & 8pm we have a wine & nibbles open evening so you could come along and meet some of the artists that will be exhibiting.

Caistor Arts & Heritage Centre is delighted to welcome an exhibition by Caistor Civic Society, held in the Exhibition Room. Running from Tuesday 26th August to Tuesday 16th September. This exhibition will showcase artifacts of historic or public interest from Caistor and the surrounding districts. These include extracts of historic documents, maps and artifacts from the Caistor archive. There will also be details of the blue plaques around Caistor, as well as the activities of the Caistor Civic Society. 

We had a wonderful turnout for the Preview of ‘70’ and some lovely feedback for Martha and the rest of the ‘70’ participants.

Some feedback shared with us on preview night:

‘Congratulations on an excellent – and very different - exhibition. Quite inspired and inspirational.’

‘A very well put together exhibition. Congrats to all involved.’

‘This is amazing! I remember a lot of these things, even from being very little!’

‘Wonderful. Evocative.’

‘Very inspiring and moving to me as a 16 year old.’

‘It was a difficult concept but it has been drawn together with skill, sensitivity and passion.’

The exhibition continues until 22nd August. Exhibition catalogues available for £5.