Irene started storytelling at primary school never stopped. She’s written over thirty plays, published two children’s spooky Strange Tales short story collections, and edited several anthologies. Her co-founded educational publishing business won several awards. Poetry and prose feature online and in numerous anthologies. Irene’s been a headliner at open mic events, appeared in films, theatre, on TV, radio, podcasts and videos.

She regularly facilitates writing and storytelling workshops for both primary and secondary schools. In 2022/23 she delivered sessions for Bradford Literature Festival, Ilkley Literature Festival, Keighley Creative, Bradford Beck Festival, Bloomsbury Festival, as well as developing creative content for Historic England, Leeds Beckett University, Bradford City of Film, Durham Wildlife Trust, the National Literacy Trust, Alnwick Castle, and many museums and libraries. Irene’s recently run scriptwriting courses for libraries and is a creative writing tutor, editor, mentor, director, and producer. Irene also leads storytelling walks and designs site-specific narratives.

Irene’s currently working on a one-woman show on Nancy de Garrs, nursemaid/housekeeper of the Brontës and will be performing at the world’s first Carnegie Library in Dunfermline as Louise Whitfield, Andrew Carnegie’s wife in Spring 2024.