B I O G R A P H Y - C V - B A C K G R O U N D

LK 'Merlynda' Robinson - LLAM, ALAM

Born into a theatrical and musical family, Merlynda trained with LAMDA for 10 years (becoming an ALAM and LLAM of LAMDA and awarded 4 Honours Medals in Speech/Acting) - and successfully completed the rigorous ‘The Mastery’ at The Actors Institute, London.

Her early years were spent almost entirely performing in Operetta, Musicals and Dramatic Plays - and - creating Romantic Fairytale Poetry and Songs - Dance and Ballet Music -  Romantic Love Poetry - Romantic Love Songs and Ballads - Romantic Nature and Place  Poetry - Moving (yet often humorous) Poetry and Monologues (and performing these as 'Bluebell' and 'Bluebelly Laughs') - and - Nonsense and Verse-Fables For Young Children (and performing these as 'Merlynda Jelly Jaws').   

Later, she added Ventriloquism, Puppetry - and - Punch & Judy Shows to her repertoire - and - even now - uniquely - includes a little live gentle, moving and evocative ventriloquism and puppetry in her Live Romantic Love, Nature and Place Poetry Readings - and - Live Romantic Love Songs and Love Ballads Recitals - together with her cute vintage ventriloquist dolls and marionettes - to the delight of Adult and Senior Audiences.

She has performed her Romantic Love, Nature and Place Poetry - her Romantic Love Songs and Love Ballads - her highly acclaimed, emotive and ambient Dance and Ballet Music - and - her Romantic Poetry, Monologues and Songs - together with a little live ventriloquism and puppetry - as themed One-Woman Romantic Love Poetry & Love Songs Recitals - in a variety of venues across England.

She also became a professional Poetry Illustrator and Cartoonist: ‘Kitty Pigfish Cartoons and Illustrations’ - after studying Fine Art at: Winchester School of Art and The OCA. Her artworks are exhibited in commercial London Galleries, regional Galleries, in France, the USA and Sweden - and are commissioned internationally. An Exhibitions/Client List is available on request. She owned and managed ‘The Barley-Brut Art Gallery’ in Hampshire and ran regular Exhibitions and Art Workshops within the South Downs National Park.  She was commissioned by The Art Institute to create a 850,000 word Art Tutorial Course - Title: ‘Master The Art’ (Published The Art Institute: 1998). In addition to being an award-winning and much-published poet and cartoonist. She frequently coached Poets, Writers and Art Students privately and conducted Workshops in Painting and Drawing at her Studio-Gallery for a number of years.

Merlynda was Personal Assistant to The Chief Barker of The Variety Club of Great Britain and the Managing Director of Columbia-EMI-Warner Bros in London - became a regular Magazine Columnist with The Observer Newspaper & Magazine Series - was a Subs Editor with The Financial Times - and - a professional Scriptwriter with Q International.

She was the Founder and Editor of two illustrated and printed Monthly Poetry Magazines - 'The Poetry Box Magazine' - and - 'The Bucks Mills Poetry Magazine'. 

In 2018, she was the Poet-In-Residence at The Cabin in Bucks Mills, Devon (courtesy of The National Trust) and opened her unique Illustrated Poetry Gallery: ‘The Bucks Mills Gallery’ regularly to visitors.

She was also a participating artist with the: MADHurst Art Trek, the DAN Trek and the ND Art Trek organisations.

In 2019 she launched a new mini poetry festival: ‘The Bucks Mills Poetry Festival - A Weekend Gathering of Poets’ bringing together poets nationally and internationally.

Merlynda is currently a professional Romantic Love Performance Poet - Romantic Nature and Place Performance Poet - Romantic Love Songs Singer-Songwriter - Romantic Ballads Singer-Songwriter - a Ballet, Dance and Ambient Music Piano and Keyboard Composer and Musician - and she includes a little ventriloquism and puppetry in her Live Romantic Love Poetry Readings - and - her Live Romantic Love Songs and Ballads Recitals - For Adult and Senior Audiences.

Merlynda is happiest of all creating, illustrating, recording and performing her Romantic Love Poems - her Romantic Nature and Place Poems - and - her Romantic Love Songs and Ballads - For Publications - Audio Books - and - For Live Readings and Recitals - For Adults and Senior Audiences.

In addition to recording her Readings of her Romantic Love Poetry - Romantic Nature and Place Poetry - and her Recitals of her Romantic Love Songs - Ballads - and - Dance and Ballet Piano and Keyboard Instrumental Compositions - as both Audio Books and Music CDs - she also enjoys creating Romantic Illustrations and experimenting with - and creating -  new Handwritten Fonts - with which to present her printed Poetry Publications as Books - Posters - Poetry Prints - Greetings Cards - and - Postcards.

Merlynda is available to Book for Poetry Festivals - Book Festivals - Literary Events - Music Festivals - Original Song Festivals - Weddings - Handfastings - Anniversaries - Memorial Ceremonies - Funeral Ceremonies and Services - and for Live Readings on Radio - TV - Film - and - Theatre.

Merlynda’s Awards Include: 

The Forward Press Poetry Award/The Golden Grove Poetry Prize, The PIM Poetry Award, The Poetry Rivals National Poetry Slam, The Serendipity Poetry Prize, The Portico Poetry Prize, The Leaf Book-Jacket Award, The National Library Book-Jacket Award, The WM Composer’s Award For Song, The UK International Songwriter Awards - Highly Commended and Semi Finalist Awards for many of her Songs For Children, and as Selected Songwriter: MiDEM, France. Over 100 of her Songs and Keyboard/Piano Compositions are published and her Keyboard Suite: ‘The Toys In The Attic’ was choreographed by The Royal Academy of Dance and premiered at: The EQ International Festival of Dance, in Ireland.

Merlynda’s 16 Solo Poetry Collections Published To Date: 

The Romance of Bucks Mills: A Collection of Romantic Love & Bereavement Poems, War Poems: A Collection For Remembrance, Naughty! Naughty! - A Collection of Naughty Comedy Poems For Adults, ACT! Alone Monologues & Verse For Performer & Speakers, Naughty But Nice! - A Collection of Comedy Poems For Adults, The Bucks Mills Funny Times! - A Collection of Comical Odes, Ditties & Illustrations, Merlynda: The Bucks Mills Poet-In-Residence in The Cabin, 6 FairyTales & Verse-Fables 4 You!, The Tale of The Goat & The Wolf (also an Audio Book), Jolly Rhymes!, Tiggee Tatter & Ticklee, Flight Or Fight, The Scarlette Book, A Pocket Collection of Horror Poetry, Kitty Pigfish’s Astrological Canines, Merlynda Requests The Pleasure (Audio Book).

Merlynda’s poems are published in a variety of Poetry Anthologies - including: 

Poets Ensemble, Prime Time Poets, Poetry Rivals 2009, Poetry Rivals 2012, Poetry Rivals 2014, Forward Poetry: A World of Verse 2011, Forward Poets 2008, Forward Poetry Poets 2012, Poetry Now 1997, Poetry Now 2013, The Great British Write Off, My Regards To You, Endless Love, Happily Ever After, The World At War, Spring To Life, Diamond Jubilee, Womanly Thoughts, Poetic Destinies, Inspired, Essence of Love, Animal Antics, Echoes of Life, The Gift of Prayer, Into The Shadows, Wasn’t It Funny When, It’s The Way They Tell ‘Em, A Royal Century, Joyful Thoughts of Christmas, United In Inspiration, In Those Days, Words In Praise of Ned Ludd, A Little Book of Serendipity, The Bordon Reflections War Poetry Collection, Mirror Mirror On The Wall (also an ebook) The National Library, The Royal Naval Poetry Collection, The Poetry Society, Addictions Anthology: Despite Knowing (Teignmouth Poetry Festival, 2022). Other Publications: ‘Master The Art’ - Art Tutorial Course (commissioned by The Art Institute) and ‘Cold Shivers: A Collection of Short Stories’.

Merlynda’s Poetry Festival & Other Live Performances Include:

The Chichester Festival, The Havant Literary Festival, The Lanesborough Hotel, London, The Milford Festival, The Ripley Festival, The Beer & Oyster Festival, The Elvetham Country Estate, Civic Hall (G-Live), privately for Baroness Golding and The Law Lords, Port Solent, on the London Fringe Theatre circuit, as supporting Performance Poet to Mike Harding - and headlining, organising and compering at a variety of Poetry Open Mics/Spoken Word Events across England.

Merlynda’s Poetry Radio Broadcasts and Interviews: 

BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio South, BBC 3 Counties, Radio Delta, Spirit FM, Radio Lion (the recording of this live poetry broadcast is frequently re-broadcast). Merlynda was regional BBC Radio’s ‘Poetry Expert’ during the BBC’s ‘Functional Poetry Initiative’.

Please visit Merlynda’s websites for her Poetry Reading Videos - Photos - Publications - Awards - And For More Details:

www.DevonBookSociety.com

www.BluebellyLaughs.yolasite.com

www.KittyPigfishCartoons.com