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Claire Dean

@clairedean.bsky.social

Writer & maker. Short stories, zines, book arts, research. Used to be an academic but retrained as a conservator. Mostly to be found cleaning and repairing old manuscripts, maps & plans in an archive. #BSL sign name, bird πŸ¦β€β¬› πŸ“Lancashire, North of England

284 Followers  |  255 Following  |  114 Posts  |  Joined: 14.11.2024  |  1.7837

Latest posts by clairedean.bsky.social on Bluesky

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04.02.2026 13:40 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Gorgeous!! X

01.02.2026 16:32 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A glass display cabinet holds a selection of paper peepshows with bellows stretched and the metal drum of a zoetrope. Bookshelves are visible through the cabinet.

A glass display cabinet holds a selection of paper peepshows with bellows stretched and the metal drum of a zoetrope. Bookshelves are visible through the cabinet.

Peepshows, paper theatres and zoetropes at the Bowes Museum (got to introduce my 19-year-old to some lovely old plastic View-Masters too!)

25.01.2026 19:22 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

This looks fantastic, Livi! X

25.01.2026 19:13 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Lepus leaping.

From the Aratea, a 9th-century manuscript on astronomy featuring constellations comprised of words. More here: https://buff.ly/34uIsEa

21.01.2026 20:45 β€” πŸ‘ 104    πŸ” 31    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The art of narrative The precise context of how it came about is now a bit fuzzy, but a few years ago there came a moment when I had to find a better description of what I do. Writer? Sure. Editor? Sometimes. Publisher? U...

Ok, with the new book properly underway, I guess I'm going to embrace 'narrative art' as a description for...[waves hand]. www.simongroth.com/marginalia/2...

21.01.2026 10:09 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Windblown charcoal drawing of wave marks in the sand and seaweed-smothered boulders. The beach and grey line of the sea stretch into the distance.

Windblown charcoal drawing of wave marks in the sand and seaweed-smothered boulders. The beach and grey line of the sea stretch into the distance.

A wet and windy #MorecambeBaySketchClub at Half Moon Bay

12.01.2026 07:16 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
View from train. Sun rising over the Leven estuary. Heysham nuclear power station in the distance. Chapel Island and the ripples of waves are closer.

View from train. Sun rising over the Leven estuary. Heysham nuclear power station in the distance. Chapel Island and the ripples of waves are closer.

First commute of 2026 (miraculously there are still trains to Barrow today despite them seemingly going nowhere else!) #MorecambeBay

02.01.2026 08:32 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A pastel drawing of rocks and seaweed on the muddy beach with the sea and the last of the light in the distance

A pastel drawing of rocks and seaweed on the muddy beach with the sea and the last of the light in the distance

An attempt at drawing the last of the light #Morecambe #Solstice

21.12.2025 17:55 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Haha, brilliant! X

21.12.2025 17:52 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That's fantastic news! (And don't mind the warring heritage professionals)

19.12.2025 15:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Rain pours and water streams from overflowing guttering onto a ragtag of performers in feathers and billowing plastic beneath the More Music sign.

Rain pours and water streams from overflowing guttering onto a ragtag of performers in feathers and billowing plastic beneath the More Music sign.

A luminous puppet with sea like skirts leads the parade through the West End's streets.

A luminous puppet with sea like skirts leads the parade through the West End's streets.

Lanterns and windows glowing in the darkness

Lanterns and windows glowing in the darkness

Lantern parade in the rain #Morecambe

07.12.2025 10:21 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Three barnacles living on yellow plastic netting on a pebbly beach in the sunshine

Three barnacles living on yellow plastic netting on a pebbly beach in the sunshine

#MorecambeBay

17.11.2025 10:55 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Black line drawing on white stone paper showing ripples in the sandstone doorway above.

Black line drawing on white stone paper showing ripples in the sandstone doorway above.

Sketching stone on stone paper at #MorecambeBaySketchClub today

09.11.2025 16:40 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Morecambe beach sand dimpled by the tide. The low winter sun reflected in the slick of saltwater.

Morecambe beach sand dimpled by the tide. The low winter sun reflected in the slick of saltwater.

Sand patterns

09.11.2025 16:38 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Skeins of blue fabric stretched across a flagged floor. A beam of sunlight pierces the glass roof in a derelict attic space.

Skeins of blue fabric stretched across a flagged floor. A beam of sunlight pierces the glass roof in a derelict attic space.

In the attic at Salts Mill, Bradford

09.11.2025 16:35 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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My new short story colllection The Building Inspector is now available from @nightjarpress.bsky.social on nightjarpress.weebly.com

01.11.2025 09:32 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Myriam reading from her book in Saul Hay gallery. A white woman with glasses and great earrings, casual clothes and white trainers.

Myriam reading from her book in Saul Hay gallery. A white woman with glasses and great earrings, casual clothes and white trainers.

Myriam smiles as publisher Nick Royle gestures to the contents page of the book. Nick is a white man with grey beard and thick black rimmed glasses.

Myriam smiles as publisher Nick Royle gestures to the contents page of the book. Nick is a white man with grey beard and thick black rimmed glasses.

The red brick gallery from the outside and Myriam can be seen signing copies of her book through the four-paned window.

The red brick gallery from the outside and Myriam can be seen signing copies of her book through the four-paned window.

It was an absolute joy to be at the launch of Myriam Frey's (@dustynewrose.bsky.social 's) first collection, 'The Building Inspector', published by the indomitable @nightjarpress.bsky.social

18.10.2025 09:27 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Weekly Stories Β· WORDTheatre

A podcast has just been released of my story 'Feather Girls' read by MyAnna Buring: wordtheatre.org/weekly/

12.10.2025 07:51 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

haha, thank you. Can't wait to read and explore the Ephemeral City! 😊

03.10.2025 14:36 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Claire in hardhat getting rained on with plastic shrouding the shelves behind.

Claire in hardhat getting rained on with plastic shrouding the shelves behind.

Glad to hear they're letting you WFH! This was me in one of the buildings I work in a fortnight ago πŸ˜‚. When I retrained, I didn't realise saving old paper things was going to be so full of adventure!

01.10.2025 16:52 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Very much this (although I don't get sent home, I have to rescue things from the leaky/crumbling bits).

01.10.2025 16:43 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
View from train window crossing the River Leven estuary in Morecambe Bay. Strata of sand, grey water, grey sky and a window full of raindrops.

View from train window crossing the River Leven estuary in Morecambe Bay. Strata of sand, grey water, grey sky and a window full of raindrops.

October commute

01.10.2025 07:27 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Red brick promenade, railings, bright blue sea in the Walney channel and house in the distance on Walney island under a blue sky with small white scudding clouds.

Red brick promenade, railings, bright blue sea in the Walney channel and house in the distance on Walney island under a blue sky with small white scudding clouds.

Barrow looking beautiful on my dinnertime wander yesterday.

26.09.2025 06:43 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
White and blue pack of 10 embassy regal (empty) and crumpled red coke can.

White and blue pack of 10 embassy regal (empty) and crumpled red coke can.

At my dayjob in an archive today, workmen started bringing me the retro rubbish they found in the loft, including a 1960s fag packet and a 1990s coke can. There was also a 1980s page 3 (not pictured πŸ˜‚)

18.09.2025 19:07 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Sketchbook with charcoal swirls held just above a pool full of sand, stones, broken shells and seaweed

Sketchbook with charcoal swirls held just above a pool full of sand, stones, broken shells and seaweed

Gutweed-covered stones rise from a pool with grey sea and sky above.

Gutweed-covered stones rise from a pool with grey sea and sky above.

Drawing the seaweed pools on Hest Bank Wharf at today's #MorecambeBaySketchClub

14.09.2025 14:52 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hope the move goes well! I don't know what to do with myself today!!

12.09.2025 08:42 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Image of roadworks, no entry sign, the silver humps of the Sage Gateshead building, Newcastle in the distance, all under a stormy sky with rainbow.

Image of roadworks, no entry sign, the silver humps of the Sage Gateshead building, Newcastle in the distance, all under a stormy sky with rainbow.

Moved my eldest for university yesterday. He's still in the north but right across at the other side 😭

12.09.2025 08:34 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful! X

12.09.2025 08:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Hello, you're very welcome to use my anti-AI bookplate any time if useful bsky.app/profile/clai... (at some point I'll get round to drawing and printing more bookplates against AI!)

10.09.2025 19:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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