We are delighted to introduce the shortlisted poets for the first Isle of Wight Poet Laureate.
Each of these writers brings a distinctive voice, perspective and relationship with the Island. Through their work, they explore its landscapes, communities, histories and changing identity, demonstrating the many ways poetry can help us see the place we call home differently.
Over the coming months, the shortlisted poets will take part in the next stages of the selection process before the first Isle of Wight Poet Laureate is announced. Read on to discover more about each of our shortlisted poets and the people behind the poetry.
Kathryn Rossati is a neurodivergent and disabled novelist and poet living in Newport on the Isle of Wight. A regular contributor to the Isle of Wight Story Festival, they have also delivered creative writing talks and workshops in local schools, and online via the Story Festival's YouTube channel. Their recent commission for the Isle of Wight National Landscape included a choose your own adventure poetry collection exploring Bouldnor Forest, alongside 'Reflections on Accessing Nature from a Neurodivergent and Disabled Perspective', an essay told through three poems.
Kathryn’s recent poetry collections include: Roar/Raw (Lemon Jelly Press, 2025), Little Tales: Poems for Kids (Next Chapter, 2025), and A Year of Wild Verse (Naked Figleaf Press, 2026). The latter started as a year-long project between November 2020 - November 2021 to raise funds for the RSPB, with many poems inspired by Island wildlife. Kathryn loves exploring nature, painting, and anything to do with The Legend of Zelda. They live with their husband, parrot and budgie.
Harrison Wavell is an Isle of Wight-born poet, storyteller, educator and nature-connection facilitator. Inspired by the rhythms of land and sea, his poetry explores belonging and our relationship with the Earth.
Harrison began creatively through songwriting and music. While teaching English in Abu Dhabi, a collection by Simon Armitage inspired him to begin writing poetry seriously. His first poems, written in the desert, were love songs to the Island he missed and later formed part of an exhibition at Dimbola and Ventnor Botanic Garden.
He has since performed and led workshops at the Isle of Wight Story Festival, Biosphere Festival and the Big Retreat in Wales, and previously taught A Level Creative Writing at Christ the King College. His poetry has appeared in the Dark Mountain Project and the Inner Development Goals anthology. Alongside poetry, Harrison writes fiction, non-fiction and children’s stories, combining his love of nature, storytelling and creative expression.
Tim Martin has been writing across multiple forms for most of his life, but in 2013 he stumbled into spoken word and adopted the name King Stammers. He went on to found Reading Between the Lines, a spoken word night that became a platform for the first wave of Solent-based artists. Beginning in dive bars, the group soon found itself hosting and curating stages at festivals including Bestival, Blissfields, the Isle of Wight Festival, Victorious and Camp Bestival.
In 2017, Tim and his ‘Poetry Wife’, Adam Gaterell, were recognised by BBC Radio 1Xtra and Camden Roundhouse for their work training and mentoring young writers, receiving support to organise a south coast tour for young poets. In 2021, Tim received the Spirit of the Fringe award. After slowing down to embrace fatherhood, he is now developing his debut solo show, A Brief History of Tim, exploring mental health, therapy and pansexuality.
Sarah Nicole is a writer, poet, illustrator and designer living on the Isle of Wight. After graduating in French and Communications in 2013, she began her career at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, initially working in translation and writing before moving into graphic design, layout, events and branding. Alongside her day job, she ran an illustration business, Squigglers, before becoming freelance in 2020.
Sarah began writing seriously several years ago and now shares short stories and prose through her blog basic-ly, and poetry through enlightened housewife. In November 2025, she self-published Diamond: The Pleasures and Perils of Living on an Island, a mini-publication printed in Freshwater and stocked across the Island.
Spoken word has since become a growing part of Sarah’s creative practice. She performs at live events and open mics and is beginning to lead poetry workshops, bringing together her interests in language, performance, creativity and Island life.
Nina Plapp is an Isle of Wight-born poet, writer, musician and performer. She composed poetry before she could write, read Keats while weeping over the ruins at St Helens beach, and has been performing and publishing her poems online since 2010.
A classically trained cellist, Nina has worked across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, but always returns to the Island. In 2016, she won BBC Radio 4’s Journey of a Lifetime Award for a documentary tracing a journey from the Isle of Wight to India. She has appeared on Radio 4’s Midweek and written for the Evening Standard and numerous magazines.
Nina also composes and performs music for access concerts at the National Gallery and writes with local band Blue Slipper. A mother of two, she draws inspiration from local history, beachcombing, childrearing and stand-up comedy, which, she says, often turns into poetry.
