Artist, poet and storyteller Nicki Greenham has just been crowned the fifth Bard of Caer Dur, taking on the role of Dorchester and West Dorset’s creative ambassador for a year and a day.
Chosen from a field of five remarkable wordsmiths, Nicki’s appointment marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Bardic Seat and for West Dorset’s creative community.
“It’s a huge honour to be in this post. There’s such a wealth of creativity, stories and talented people in this area, and I’m looking forward to bringing those voices together,” said Nicki.
Nicki was chosen from five talented contenders from across the region. She impressed the judges with a performance combining poetry, storytelling and local folklore, including two poems about the power of the spoken word and a story about much-loved Dorchester celebrity Susie the cat, which she wove together with the old Dorset myth of Lazy Lawrence, the faery protector of orchards.
“It’s been a long time since I told stories, but the Bard competition gave me the motivation to get back into it. And of course I had to include Susie — I actually saw her asleep in the bookshop, and that was the starting point for my story.”
Presided by the outgoing Bard Rebecca Danicic, and Grand Bard Peter Roe, the annual Bard of Caer Dur competition is a free, community event supported by Dorchester Town Council and managed by The Jawbone Collective CIC to celebrate the region’s rich literary heritage. The role honours contemporary creative voices in poetry, storytelling, and music.
“Last year’s Bard, Rebecca Danicic, has left some impressive Bard boots to fill,” said Nicki. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be chosen for this post, and really looking forward to seeing where the year takes us.”
Having grown up in Weymouth, Nicki returned to the county three years ago and enjoys being part of such a creative community. Her work is inspired by landscape and the unseen realms. Her poetry has been published in a recent anthology and all three editions of the Jawbone Journal, as part of the 2026 Omniverse events and she regularly performs at Poet Laureate open mic nights.
Nicki will serve as a creative ambassador for Dorchester and West Dorset during her year and a day, hosting local events, engaging with the community and ultimately setting the theme for the next Bard of Caer Dur competition.
