Staff profile

My PhD research focuses on depictions of Norse mythology in British art and literature c. 1760-1830. Before the middle of the eighteenth century, knowledge of Old Norse literature had been largely limited to small scholarly and antiquarian circles. However, in the second half of the eighteenth century, artists and writers began to engage with Old Norse mythology, contending with this unfamiliar set of imagery, to create innovative responses to a new visual medium. Through this research I look at a wide range of artists and writers in this period including Thomas Gray, William Blake, Ann Radcliffe, Frank Sayers, Henry Fuseli, Robert Southey, Walter Scott, Richard Hole etc. 

Before undertaking this PhD, I studied at Durham for both my Joint Honours BA in English and History (2016-2019) and my MA in History (2019-2020). During my undergrad I completed a dissertation looking at the importance of the cultural afterlife of the Old Norse gods after the Christian conversion of Iceland. It was then during my MA that I became interested in Norse reception studies as my dissertation looked at the 'Echoes of Old Norse mythology in British culture 1760-1810', which inspired my PhD research. 

In addition to my studies, I have spent two years as the Postgraduate and Mature Students' President at St Cuthbert's Society during my MA (2019-2020) and second year of my PhD (2023-2024). In between my studies, I spent a year working for Durham SU as the Postgraduate Academic Officer. As someone from the North-East, I have used my experience in these roles to advocate on matters surrounding access & participation, especially for those hoping to undertake a postgraduate degree. I have also been heavily involved in MEMSA during my PhD having held the position of MEMSA Press Officer (2022-2023) and co-Chair (2023-2024). 

• Norse Reception Studies in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century