Interview: Kim Smith

1. Beowulf is a condensed version of the longest epic poem in Old English, the language spoken in Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest. What inspired you to bring the legend of Beowulf back to life in this modern translation?
In 2008 I produced a set of six wall hangings for the ‘Hall’ at West Stow Anglo-Saxon village in Suffolk. As part of the design process I read various translations of Beowulf in order to pick out pieces of the text to be represented pictorially.
I produced the wall hangings in the style of the Saxons, painting with natural pigments on canvas, and it was while working on these that the idea of creating a book using similar illustrations and condensing the story grew.
I considered that by producing such a book the story of Beowulf could be made available to a wider audience than that which will read the original poem.

2. You created your own art work for Beowulf, using natural pigments. How did you go about this and what would you say your artwork portrays?
I sourced some ready made pigments: Weld, Woad and Madder, which are mixed with additional ingredients including egg white to bind them for use. The black coloring is soot from my fireplace at home.
The stylised art (known as knot-work) is based on designs that were popular during the ‘Dark Ages’. Despite its name, this was a time of beautiful jewellery, woodwork and stone carvings and I wanted to convey the intricacy of their designs with my interpretation of the story of Beowulf.

3. You are involved in the West Anglo Saxon Village, what is your involvement there and how has that helped you to recreate this story?
My family have been ‘Friends of West Stow’ since 2003, and I am a volunteer Early Saxon re-enactor. This is something that I thoroughly enjoy and I get involved in various activities within the village on Open Days such as cooking, forging, basket weaving and sewing- all tasks that would take place on a daily basis in such a village.
It was while working on artwork for display in the village that I became inspired to create this book, as Beowulf is often told orally at West Stow.

4. How would you describe your book and who would you say it was aimed at?
My book is a handy, easy to read, highly illustrated and colourful book based on history and folklore. I feel that it is appropriate for anyone and especially makes the story of Beowulf available to readers who are unlikely to pick up the original script.
I think it will be of particular interest to those with an interest in art and history.

5. What is your favourite part in the Beowulf story and how do you think people will relate to it today?
I enjoy the whole poem. I think it gives an interesting insight to the Germanic culture of thre 5th-10th Centuries, and demonstrates how the battle between good and evil involving fantasy creatures such as dragons is timeless. These sagas are as popular today as they have always been.

6. Having wrote Beowulf, has this inspired you to look at other old stories and bring them into the modern era?
Yes I will be ready reading Old Norse sagas, with a view to creating something similar.

7. What has influenced your writing style?
I can’t think of any ‘style’ that has influenced me. I have taken an existing story and re-created it in my own way.

8. Who was your favourite childhood author?
Arthur Ransom was a favourite author; I particularly remember enjoying Swallows and Amazons as a child.

9. What are your future plans?
I plan to continue enjoying family life, being a Saxon, reading and creating pieces of art (painting and sewing mainly). Perhaps also producing more books.