Susan Downer

Susan Downer is a trained journalist, award-winning short story writer, and has studied scriptwriting and novel writing. She currently works as a part-time development officer with Sheffield Creative Guild and volunteers with Sheffield Mind and Short Fiction Journal. In 2022 her poetry will be included in an anthology published by Sheffield Flourish. She likes walking. She can often be seen walking past the gym in the general direction of any shop with the word 'cake' in the title.

22 July 2022

When a man tells artist Keith Piper that he feels "shouted at" and asks what white people should make of Piper's work, conversations about racism and its creators become even more important.

15 April 2022

Just like the art of Claudette Johnson, whose work is on display at Graves Gallery, Child Q has filled every corner of her frame. Instead of crying out in shame and defeat, both have stood up for themselves and called others to stand with them, says Susan Downer.

14 January 2021

Poems from Sheffield Flourish’s The Way I Flourish creative writing course, exploring themes of narrative, identity, journey and home.

Susan Downer

The man on the front row

Claudette Johnson Child Q and art: Shouting, screaming and crying – without giving up

The Way I Flourish