Biography

Rob Cullen is a poet, short story writer, novelist and photographer. He grew up in the Rhondda leaving to study Art and Design in Bristol and Cardiff. He moved to New York in 1973 returning to study in Brighton and qualified as an Art Teacher. In 1981 Rob and his wife moved to Wales and brought up four children. Rob worked in the field of child abuse and violence for 35 years. In 2004 Rob established a consultancy and worked as an expert in the Criminal and Family Court across the UK. In 2013 Rob returned to his art training, photography and writing. Rob was involved together with other artists and writers in contributing to an anthology of short stories – A Fall into Grace - on the subject of love with his story The Choice which was published on 16th December 2015. Rob was shortlisted in the Idris Davies & John Tripp 2016 poetry competition for his poem "If I had to live anywhere else". Rob's Poetry Collection "Uncertain Times" was published by Octavo Press in September 2016. Rob will be reading at Octavo Press West Bute Street on 11thNovember together with Mike Jenkins (Red Poets) clare e. jenkins, Mab Jones, Ellen Davies, Rhian Ellizabeth and Rhys Milsom. Rob will be reading his poetry in the Welsh Mental Health Arts Festival at the National Millennium Centre in 22nd November 2016 and reading with the Re-Live Veterans Choir during their performance at the National Millennium Centre 23rd November.

Samples

Riding the wave How many times have I said to a child one of those frightened children so fearful and deeply afraid that they could not put their feelings or thoughts into words. You don’t need to do such harm to yourself unless of course you want to but somehow that’s not how you look to me you know you don’t have to go there you really don’t need to let the wave take you overcome you and take you there, take you to the depths, to that darkness, to that unhappiness that place you’ve been to so many times. You already know what’s down there. So why do you need to go there again, again and again, letting the wave take you. It’s a waste of time going down there now there are no surprises for you down there even the wave holds no surprise for you. So surprise yourself and do something different Why don’t you just ride the wave.

All poems are copyright of the originating author. Permission must be obtained before using or performing others' poems.

Blog entries by Rob Cullen

Voices on the Bridge @Globetrotters Bar Pontypridd 13th December 2018 (05/12/2018)

Walking with water walking with love (17/06/2017)

Blog link: https://www.writeoutloud.net/blogs/robcullen

Favourite Profiles

Suzanne Iuppa