This photographic portrait of John Agard by Maud Sulter is one of a number of poets on display at Picture the Poet, a travelling exhibition currently at the Graves Gallery in Sheffield until Saturday 29 November. Picture the Poet, presented by the National Portrait Gallery in partnership with Apples and Snakes and the National Literacy Trust, includes portraits of Benjamin Zephaniah, Simon Armitage, Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Rosen and Sir Andrew Motion. Just before the exhibition closes in Sheffield, there will be a special night at Graves Gallery, Picture The Poet Live, featuring John Agard, who won the Queen’s Medal of Poetry in 2012, and American slam poet Buddy Wakefield, on Friday 28 November at 7pm. It will also feature local poets Gav Roberts, Stan Skinny and a performance by young people who have written work inspired by the exhibition.

The travelling exhibition, which began its tour in Norwich earlier this year, will move on to Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston (24 January – 11 April 2015;  The Collection, Lincoln (1 May - 2 August 2015); Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens (September – November 2015); and Tullie House Museum, Carlisle (December 2015 – April 2016).   

PHOTOGRAPH: MAUD SULTER © NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON