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Mary Kenny

All of the information on this page has been provided by the author. If you need an author to have specialist skills, experience or knowledge please ask for more information about this ahead of booking them for an event. Please note that Scottish Book Trust cannot carry out Disclosure checks on Live Literature authors for most events. It is the responsibility of the person organising the event to carry out the appropriate Disclosure checks.
Contact: [email protected]
Local authority: Scottish Borders
Languages: English
Author type: Illustrator, Storyteller
Mary Kenny's headshot

I live and work in the Borders as a storyteller and artist. My working journey of 40 years has taken me through stone carving, public art and the heritage industry, community art, museum education, back to painting and drawing, with storytelling - a golden thread running through all, and a gift from childhood.

A community-based educator, I love working creatively with people of all ages and abilities both visually and through the magical realm of storytelling. I tell stories from our own rich heritage and abroad - sometimes I make up my own - tailoring storytelling appropriately to my audience. Whatever the subject or place, it is my pleasure to conjure an engaging atmosphere of unbounded imagination, knowing that neither age nor ability are barriers to enjoying a good story well told.

Events have included schools, museums, galleries, historic houses, residences and festivals. I regularly tell at Beyond Borders festival and at Traquair House events. I currently lead a two-year outdoor based community engagement project at Abbotsford, home of Sir Walter Scott.

Published work includes:

Websites featuring the author

Local authorities will visit

Aberdeen City; Aberdeenshire; Angus; Argyll and Bute; Clackmannanshire; Dumfries and Galloway; Dundee; East Ayrshire; East Dunbartonshire; East Lothian; East Renfrewshire; Edinburgh City; Falkirk; Fife; Glasgow City; Highland; Inverclyde; Midlothian; Moray; Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles); North Ayrshire; North Lanarkshire; Orkney Islands; Perth and Kinross; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders; Shetland; South Ayrshire; South Lanarkshire; Stirling; West Dunbartonshire; West Lothian

Events will deliver

Live drawing; Performance; Workshop; Professional development, CLPL or CPD

Audience will work with

Adult learners; Intergenerational learning; Outdoor learning; Adults with additional support needs; People experiencing mental health problems; Reluctant readers; Vulnerable young people (under 18); Vulnerable adults; Vulnerable older people; Young people in the community (e.g. Youth clubs, Guides, Scouts); Young people with additional support needs (under 18) (ASN/SEN)

Topics of work

Fairy tales, folklore & mythology; Health including mental health & wellbeing; History; Nature

Age groups published for

Children; Teens; Adults

Age groups will work with

3-5; 6-8; 9-11; 12-14; 15-18; 18+

Audience size

0-10; 11-30; 31-100