Welcome to the website of Richard Skinner. Here you will find information about my poetry, my cabaret-revue comedy, my research into evolutionary psychology and spirituality, and other projects such as collaborating in the writing of Bethlehem! the musical. If you wish to contact me about any of them - to order books, to commission a poem, to book me for a poetry reading or a cabaret or a creative writing workshop, or simply to comment on the material I am posting, please click on the link at the bottom of this page.

If you simply wish to have some comments to reflect on, or laugh at, click on the 'miscellany' button.

Brief details. A Londoner by upbringing, I moved to the south-west of England in 1975 for 6 months. I'm still here. Over the years I have worked as a library assistant, psychiatric nurse, social worker, family therapist, mental health support worker and second-hand bookshop assistant. Currently I am a self-employed poet, performer, therapist/counsellor, occasional workshop leader, mental health worker and bookshop assistant, and in 2006 I started post-graduate research into links between evolutionary theory and spirituality. I have been a member of the Parish of Central Exeter for many years, where until recently I was a church warden. I live in Exeter with my wife Betsy (who has three daughters: Julia, Jenny and Skye) and two cats, Mia and Lyra.

As a poet and performer I have published seven books, the most recent being Invocations. I give regular readings of my work, appearing at the Exeter Festival since 1989, and have twice been on tours sponsored by South West Arts. A former member of Cambridge University 'Footlights', I also write and perform sketch-based comedy, and I appeared on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with both my comedy and my poetry.

Other writings include occasional fiction with short stories published in a range of small press magazines, and occasional non-fiction articles published in newsletters, small magazines and on the web. In 2009 I collaborated in the writing of Bethlehem! - a Christmas nativity musical for schools and community groups which was performed by several schools during Advent.

Research. With a degree in natural sciences behind me, I have over the years developed a strong interest in evolutionary theory, and in particular evolutionary psychology. My current focus is on how that relates to the religious/spiritual dimension.