Jawbone Poetry and Writing Workshops

A Well Held Space For You To Explore

Join Jessica Taggart-Rose and Peter Roe

Saturday July 18th 10am - 4pm - Four Seasons Studio, Burton Bradstock DT6 4RN

July Worshop - Burton Bradstock

Bring your creative spirit and join us in an extraordinary setting on the edge of the Jurassic Coast. Set in the grounds of Othona

A black and white portrait of a woman with short curly hair, looking to the side with a thoughtful expression. Jessica Taget Rose
Ready to book – click here

Rooted in Place - Travelling in Time

With Jessica Taggart-Rose and Peter Roe

This workshop will demonstrate how experiences in nature can inspire writing and connect us to our past. When we revisit our past, by travelling in time we can visit those places where we are "rooted in place”. Exploring memory to write about locations of personal significance.Our writing workshops in the summer months allow us to slip into nature, with outdoor activities to stimulate and emphasise sensory observation and to stimulate creativity. As always we will use a variety of prompts and methods in a supportive and nurturing space, where participants can share if they wish and express themselves freely.

BYO lunch - Maximum 14 participants

Date: Saturday 18th July
Time: 10am - 4pm

Price: £50. Subsidised places available please contact us
Location: Four Seasons Studio, Burton Bradstock DT6 4RN

Jessica Taggart Rose is a poet concerned with humanity, nature and how they interact.

Her debut pamphlet, The river has no colour, was released in Europe in December 2024 and in the UK in June 2025 with The New Menard Press. Written in both French and English, it is a Poetry Book Society Translation Choice.

Widely published in anthologies, journals and zines, Jess performs across the UK and, sometimes, in Europe. She is one half of the Promenade performance duo and has appeared at B-Side events on Portland. She lives by the sea in Margate, is a founding member of Poets for the Planet and co-runs the Marine Studios Writers’ Room.

Cerne Abbas Workshops 2026

Join Rebecca Danicic and Peter Roe

Saturday August 15th 10am - 4pm | Cerne Abbas Village Hall DT2 7GY

A woman with short brown hair and a black turtleneck holding a small dessert and a planner, sitting at a table with a white mug and a pen, near a window with a blurred outdoor background Rebecca Danici
Ready to book – click here
Two Cerne Abbas Workshops £90

Personal Mythologies -
Giants and Kings

With Rebecca Danicic and Peter Roe

This workshop with The Fourth Bard of Dorchester and The Grand Bard of Dorset will unlock the myths and stories you carry within and help turn your past into a rich personal folklore. We will raise The Awen, the spirit of inspiration and draw on the landscape and the ancient bardic traditions of communal storytelling. We will explore how memory, images and symbols can be shaped into living narrative poems. We will share, listen, and respond in a circle of voices, holding each life as a myth-in-the-making and each poem as a fragment of your own inner saga.

Weather permitting we will visit The Silver Well, The Abbey and The Cerne Giant taking inspiration from the magical landscape. Like St Edwold we will show you how to recognise dreams and episodes from your life as personal quests, thresholds, and encounters or stories ready to be honoured, reimagined, and spoken into your personal mythology.

BYO lunch - Maximum 14 participants

Date: Saturday 15th August
Time: 10am - 4pm

Price: £50. Subsidised places available please contact us

Location: Cerne Abbas Village Hall DT2 7GY

Rebecca Danicic is The Fourth Bard of Dorchester (Caer Dur - 2025/26), serving as an ambassador for the arts across Dorchester and West Dorset. Rebecca studied English Literature at St Hilda’s College, Oxford, and Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Rebecca has presented her own poetry at literary events around West Dorset for ‘Tears In The Fence’, ‘The Jawbone Collective’, The Dorset History Centre, The William Barnes and The Thomas Hardy Societies.

Join Estelle Phillips and Peter Roe

Saturday October 17th 10am - 4pm | Cerne Abbas Village Hall DT2 7GY

A woman with blonde wavy hair smiling and holding her hand on her head, wearing a floral spaghetti strap top, against a plain light-colored background.
Ready to book – click here
Two Cerne Abbas Workshops £90

Sounds of Sacred Stones

With Estelle Phillips and Peter Roe

This workshop will explore the thresholds between written word and sacred space. How landscape can act as a living library for the history of a place. We will visit the sacred well, reflect on the Abbey ruins and The Cerne Giant treating them as voices in a chorus of place.

We will take our inspiration from stones and flints, exploring texture, weight and purpose, natural or shaped to influence our literary form. We will use a variety of exercises and experiment with concrete or shape poetry to create poetry and prose that sings the songs of landscape.

BYO lunch - Maximum 14 participants

Date: Saturday 17th October
Time: 10am - 4pm

Price: £50. Subsidised places available please contact us

Location: Cerne Abbas Village Hall DT2 7GY

Estelle Phillips is an award-winning writer, performance poet and podcaster. Author of “Motherhoodlum” (Jawbone) and “The Headless Horseman” (Chase & Chalke/Cranborne Chase National Landscape), her performances include Royal Albert Hall, Southbank and BBC Radio. Her full-length poetry for stage includes “110 m.p.h.” (Nuffield/MAST) and “Dear Khrystyna” (shortlisted for the Ukraine Institute Writers Lab, Salisbury Fringe).

Estelle won BBC Radio’s “Ten Tiny Plays About Wiltshire” and Touchnote’s “Fill The Space” competitions. She was part of Literature Works 2024/25 cohort of Emerging Writers, runner up in Yeovil Literary Prize (Novel) and her prose publications include The Clearing and Dialect. Estelle’s podcast series “Nature Talks With Humans” is available at ttps://naturetalkswithhumans.transistor.fm/

Peter Roe - Poet, Facilitator, Editor & Publisher

Black and white photo of a man with gray hair and beard, wearing a leather jacket, outside in front of a stone wall and a church. Text on the image reads 'Peter Roe' and 'Jawbone: Words to keep you talking'.

Peter Roe is a physically disabled, Neurodivergent performance poet - an alliterating, artistic, autistic. He is the Founder, Managing Editor, and Publisher of The Jawbone Collective CIC, a Not For Profit dedicated to nurturing and promoting emerging and under-represented South West voices through publication, workshops and creating performance opportunities

He is a former Bard of Caer Dur and now The Grand Bard of Dorset (2024-29); Host/founder of Jawbone @ The Poet Laureate and Jawbone Online; Chief Editor/Publisher of the bi-annual Jawbone Journal a print based South-West Literary Magazine; Editor of twenty books, he has three published poetry collections and a novella; He is described as “Like Pam Ayres but a bloke!” and “The Gandalf of Poetry”.

Ready to book – click here

Kind words from past workshop attendees...

“l loved how much freedom we were given, especially when it came to wandering the grounds and with the prompts. Not boxed in, but rather guided which was different from a lot of previous workshops. Also, the location was gorgeous. Would love to visit there again.”

Workshop Participant

Landscape, Myth and Magic Workshop

"These workshops have been transformational for me as a creative soul, and the community and opportunities that are building up as a result of these workshops and the Jawbone work generally are incredible. I can't thank Peter and Megan enough for creating this thriving poetry and writing scene in Dorset."

Simone Webber - Dorset

Regular workshop attendee

Group of people sitting outdoors on tree stumps in a green forest, engaged in reading or writing, with one man holding a book and a walking stick, and a woman looking on attentively.
Group of people sitting outdoors on tree stumps in a green forest, engaged in reading or writing, with one man holding a book and a walking stick, and a woman looking on attentively.
A woman standing behind a wooden gate with a blue sign that says 'Othona'. She is smiling and wearing a maroon turtleneck and maroon overalls. There is green foliage around her.
A woman standing behind a wooden gate with a blue sign that says 'Othona'. She is smiling and wearing a maroon turtleneck and maroon overalls. There is green foliage around her.
A young woman with long brown hair wearing a maroon sweater and patterned skirt sitting on a small wooden stool outdoors in a green, leafy forest clearing. She is smiling and looking to the side. There are tree stumps in front of her with a book and a bottle placed on top of them. A bottle of red water is beside her. Bright green plants and trees surround her, with a blue sky visible in the background.
A young woman with long brown hair wearing a maroon sweater and patterned skirt sitting on a small wooden stool outdoors in a green, leafy forest clearing. She is smiling and looking to the side. There are tree stumps in front of her with a book and a bottle placed on top of them. A bottle of red water is beside her. Bright green plants and trees surround her, with a blue sky visible in the background.
A woman with red hair and tattoos is lying face down on a yoga mat, writing on a large piece of paper. She appears to be in a relaxed mood, resting her head on her hand while writing with a pen. There are books and a backpack nearby in a cozy indoor setting.
A woman with red hair and tattoos is lying face down on a yoga mat, writing on a large piece of paper. She appears to be in a relaxed mood, resting her head on her hand while writing with a pen. There are books and a backpack nearby in a cozy indoor setting.

The Beautiful Surroundings of Othona

On Dorset's Jurassic Coast

A tall tree with a thick trunk and green foliage stands against a bright blue sky with a few clouds. There are smaller trees, bushes, and grass around its base, with some cacti in the foreground, and the ocean can be seen in the background.
Illustration of a dinosaur skull, showing detailed features of the skull and eye socket.

There will be opportunities to take in the scenery and soak up the beauty of this fantastic location. Woodlands, glades and personal places for reflection.



Extraordinary views from the studio and the coastal path on the fields of the National Trust, a short walk through the grounds. Chesil Beach is 20 minutes walk from the studio.



Should we be bothered by weather, the eco-friendly Four Seasons Studio offers a warm and modern haven for creative minds.

Sepia-toned illustration of a dolphin skull viewed from the side.
A detailed illustration of a prehistoric marine reptile skull, showcasing a long slender snout, large eye socket, and textured bone structure.
Sunset over a landscape with trees, grassy area in the foreground, and the ocean in the background. looking out over Lyme Bay for Othona.
A narrow dirt trail winds through a dense, green forest with tall trees and lush foliage.
A person with curly hair wearing a red coat walking down a forest trail surrounded by leafless trees and green underbrush during daytime.
A yellow house with solar panels on the roof, a large leafless tree beside it, and a lush green lawn with a picnic table in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.
Scenic landscape of grassy hills with trees, ocean in the distance, and a cloudy sky with sun rays breaking through.
Flowers growing in a desert landscape with the ocean and cliffs in the background during sunset.

Jawbone Collective's Community Poetry / Writing Workshops

Every Month in Dorchester - Free to attend

Dorset Museum and Art Gallery with Peter Roe

These 'Drop-In' workshops are for anyone interested in unlocking their creative potential through writing. Whether you're drawn to poetry, short stories, or journaling, we offer a supportive environment for discovery and growth.

10:30 am - 12:30 pm Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Community Space, Dorset Museum and Art Gallery. Does not include entry to main museum.

Second Wednesday of the Month; 11th February, 11th March, 8th April, 13th May, 10th June, 8th July, 12th August, 9th September, 14th October...

Workshop Details - The workshops are run by Peter Roe, lead editor of Jawbone & former Bard of Dorchester who hosts a  monthly Open Mic at The Poet Laureate in Poundbury.

What participants can expect:

  • Guidance in finding inspiration and kickstarting ideas

  • Methods to develop your unique voice and perspective

  • A safe space to explore creativity and gain confidence

  • Opportunities to transform ideas into finished pieces

  • New ways of looking at the world around us

A historic stone building with large stained glass windows, ornate architectural details, and a turret, situated on a sunny street with people sitting on a bench nearby.

If you wish to let us know you are coming or you have any questions, contact us below.

If you would like to be on email list specific to our community workshop sign up here.