Natalie Zervou reflects on her recent Hatching residency
They said she swallowed her words,
Circles and squares and all sorts.
Scratchy throat chakra.
Ikea bag blue.
Big enough to hold all the symbols on the page.
The rage.
A boat for my kids.
I’ll toss those handles over my shoulder and we’ll swing
Over silent words and roaring waves.
A new line to cross.
A new word to trace.
Some musings from long-standing Talking Birds’ board member Jack about Coincidences
At our Talking Birds (TB) board meeting today we had one of our ongoing extras where a board or staff member briefly talks about themselves – it is a great way to learn more about our team. I was terrified when my turn came around, but I think I got away with it.
Shaniece Martin reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
When I arrived at The Nest, I think I left ‘poet’ outside the studio door. Not intentionally at first. More as a quiet instinct, a need to enter the space without already knowing what I was supposed to create, or who I was supposed to be within it.
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Emily Payne reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
Day One:
The Vain Swan: a Backwards-Haiku and a Bio
Hatch slowly in the quiet.
Dried shell picked away;
folded wings creased, and useless.
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Tilly Mack reflects on her recent Hatching residency at The Nest
I am a fashion and textiles artist; my practice focuses on making unique, bespoke garments from scrap and deadstock fabrics sourced from local charity shops, ebay auctions, and the wonderful Crow Recycling Scrapstore.
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Anastasjia Pudane reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
So many creative projects are quietly sacrificed because our primary role becomes mother, not creator. Being an artist, illustrator, or maker — especially when it comes to self-initiated work — often slips into second place.
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Joanna Litten reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest.
‘Get that application in!’ My friend Natalie told me. I told her I didn’t have time, discounting myself.
I’m not scared of rejection. I am afraid to fail.
But she was right. What’s the harm in putting myself out there?
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Olivia James reflects on her recent Hatching residency at The Nest.
In recent times I have been drawn back to analogue ways of working and life, without pressure or restricting myself (I still love the convenience, immediacy and fun technology brings and the worlds and connections that are discovered, I won’t be throwing away my mobile phone or pausing my social media any time soon!). I knew that in my first week at The Nest I wanted to not use my laptop – be without the distraction and temptation of doing or looking at other things. I arrived with pen and paper and an open mind to approach the 10 days ahead flexing my writing muscles; quite literally using hand and finger muscles.
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Taszyn Bailey‘s Hatching Residency reflections.
Before starting my residency, I tried to figure out what I’m actually visually drawn to. I looked through old photos, saved images, and my past illustrations and paintings. There were two themes I consistently revisit: architecture and nature, often intertwined.
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Lucy Denton reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
I recently had the opportunity to spend four days over two weeks as part of the Nest Residency with the team at Talking Birds in Coventry. I felt comfortable in the space and was treated like a professional. During that time, the experience opened up far more ideas than I expected.
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Julie Joannides reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
At the end of February 2026 I was about to start my Nest residency I had such mixed feelings of excitement and nervousness with the dreaded imposter creeping in. I submitted an application in the Autumn supported by Charlie in one of her surgeries where I offloaded my head full of a myriad of ideas that I wanted to explore. I was excited and nervous and wanted to make the most of the experience ahead.
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Naomi Reid reflects on her recent Hatching Residency at The Nest
To prepare myself for the Hatching Residency at The Nest, I began by simply breathing. Contained within the four walls of Helloland, I sat still and breathed.
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Words from the Birds 