Joanne Dowd
A Director of Hillfoots Tales, Joanne has been a Professional Storyteller for three years. Having performed at the Scottish International Storytelling Festival in Edinburgh and locally for over six years, she was delighted to be invited to Headline Glasgow’s Better Crack Club earlier this year. Joanne is a Community Education Worker with a keen interest in Applied Storytelling.
As well as telling traditional tales she also enjoys writing. Joanne has had work published in literary magazines and anthologies. She also teaches creative writing. Her interest in storytelling comes from hearing local stories handed down to her as a child.
Email: joanne@hillfootstales.co.uk
Eleanor Bell
Eleanor has been involved with Hillfoots Tales for three years, making a regular contribution to the fortnightly meetings. She has found joy in stories and loves to share that joy and social connection.
Driven to improve her storytelling technique and learn new stories and styles, she became an Apprentice Storyteller at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Eleanor regularly attends workshops and events there.
As well as telling stories in Edinburgh, Eleanor has also taken part in the Bruce Festival in Dunfermline in the summer, telling traditional tales to children in the storytelling tent.
Email: eleanor@hillfootstales.co.uk
Tania Dron
A love for the theatre and performance started at an early age for Tania. After studying acting she has spent her working life performing, educating, writing and guiding, particularly in tourism.
A member of Hillfoots Tales for a few years, Tania loves being part of the community, sharing, listening to stories and enjoying the company.
With a firm belief that stories are a massive part of what makes us human, Tania is happiest in a storytelling environment, be it a performance or a relaxed gathering. The only improvement would be to add a whisky, a cat and crafting supplies.
Heather Kirby
Heather has been with Hillfoots Tales for three years and loves hearing all the storytellers and their tales. She has developed her skills through involvement in the group and having played a key part the Scottish International Storytelling Festival “Wild Hillfoots” events, Heather was able to transfer her organisational skills into her work.
A regular attender at our fortnightly sessions, she enjoys great company, good humour and laughter.
Heather has been blethering since childhood and sees no reason to stop as an adult. She works across a variety of media and genres from around the world under different pseudonyms.
Sue Bytheway
Sue has been a member of Hillfoots Tales for 4 years. She finds attending the fortnightly sessions great fun and enjoys hearing interesting stories, especially about the local area. Sue has made a lot of good friends in the group. She has been writing and telling stories for many years.
Sue also enjoys walking her dogs in the local countryside, going out with friends and looking after her grandchildren. As well as reading, she also tells stories to her children and grandchildren.
Gail Watson
Having volunteered for a year, Gail has joined the Hillfoots Tales Management Team and leads on our website development. She discovered a flair for oral storytelling and is developing her skills through regularly telling at our fortnightly meetings and events.
A highlight of the past year was taking part in the Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2023 “Wild Hillfoots” event in October. For the first time, Gail shared a story as part of a professional performance to a live audience.
Gail enjoys walking, reading, history, listening to music and travelling to far-flung destinations, gathering world stories.