Bard of Cumberland * Bardsea-Green Films * Land of Lore Films * folklore; Druid mythology; storytelling; poetry; contemporary art; folklore on film; surrealist and satirical film.
I was born in Ayrshire, Scotland. My first degree is a BSc with Honours in Botany from the University of Glasgow, that led me into a career in science and agronomy, both in the UK and in Developing Countries. Upon returning from overseas I studied for a BA with Honours in Fine Art at Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and then ordained as a Buddhist monk for a few years. I returned to my art practice in 2011.
In 2016 I was awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts. Also in 2016 I co-founded Bardsea-Green Films, and we are now a group of filmmakers, folklorists and performance artists making sketch series, short films, and documentary.
In 2018, I began sharing folk tales and Druid lore as the Bard of Cumberland. Exploring folklore through the medium of short film, Land of Lore Films was founded in 2020.
Stephen George Rae, Rae Film & Media
contact : stephengeorgerae@gmail.com
Exhibitions – Projects – Interviews
2023
I continue to write for Cumbria magazine on local folklore
Filming a documentary as Bardsea-Green Films of “The Pike: a story of the film the never was”
Further “folklore on film” projects as Land of Lore Films are scheduled for this spring
2022
I continue to write for Cumbria magazine on local folklore
Faeries and the Piper, the Galloway Folklore film series
Headless Monk of Furness Abbey, the Bard of Cumberland film series
Guest host on Edgeways. A weekly group on Zoom Talking Druids and Cumbrian folklore
“may this universe not deceive you” painting exhibited at the Lake Artists Society show at Grasmere
An interview with Daniel Pye of the Westmorland Gazette regarding my upcoming documentary with Bardsea-Green Films of, The Pike: a story of the film the never was
Witches Heart, is a folk art sculpture, and is now on permanent display at the Folklore Library & Archive, Devon; The Witches Heart copy is now on permanent display at the Centre for Folklore, Myth & Magic, Todmorden
The Bluecap, the Bard of Cumberland film series
Interview for the Dream Swarm podcast, discussing art, folklore and filmmaking
Link: https://dreamswarm-podcast.castos.com/podcasts/13164/episodes/folklore-filmmaking-bard-of-cumberland
2021
I continue writing for Cumbria magazine on local folklore
Two paintings exhibited at the Lake Artists Society Exhibition, Rheged Centre, Penrith, UK
An interview for Hollr, as part of a series of documentaries being produced on Cumbrian folklore and ghost stories
Fullarton and the Faeries, the Ayrshire Folklore film series
The Bloody Redcap, the Bard of Cumberland film series
Interview with NWE Mail, a local Cumbrian newspaper; print and online
Red Lady of Woodland, short film of local ghost story
2020
Land of Lore Films founded, in partnership with Bardsea-Green Films, using the medium of short film to explore the folklore of my native Ayrshire, and my adopted Cumbria
Bedtime Tales, a series of alternative ‘fairytales’ with a more surrealist element, in collaboration with Bardsea-Green Films
Boggart of Grathwaite, the Bard of Cumberland film series
An Ulverston Ghost Story, the short film of a lesser-known ghost story
The Screaming Skulls of Calgarth, a short film of this classic Lake District ghost story
The Tale of Sawney Bean, the Ayrshire Folklore film series
Cumbria magazine – writing an article each issue on the topic of Cumbrian folklore. My first, November 2020
Adam Bell, the Robin Hood of the North, a short film with Bardsea-Green Films
Nadur, a performance art and film project in collaboration with Bardsea-Green Films. Nadur (nature in Gaelic) is a narrative to wildlife decline, biodiversity loss, and pollution of our ecosystems
OPUS, a new series of experimental film of poetry, film and music. A collaboration with Bardsea-Green Films
Interviewed as the Bard of Cumberland for Lancs Live, an online news service covering Lancashire and Cumbria
Link: https://www.lancs.live/news/local-news/bard-cumberland-cumbrias-storyteller-ghosts-18746633
Interviewed as the Bard of Cumberland for The Folklore Podcast, episode 73
Dunmail, the last King of Cumbria, the Bard of Cumberland film series
The Janet Tree, the Bard of Cumberland film series
Bard of Cumberland website launched
2019
Winner of the Kent Valley Award for ‘Best Work on Paper’ at the Lake Artists Society Summer Exhibition, Grasmere, UK
Cernunnos Horned God of Rheged short film
The Boggart of Leece, the first of a new series of one minute films of folklore and film as the Bard of Cumberland
2017-18
Come and Play with Mr Rae experimental short film exhibited as part of FON 4.5, Barrow-in-Furness, UK
The Last King of Cumbria short film
#LostLaika short film
2016
Founded Bardsea-Green Films with Paul A. Rigg
Awarded Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts; FRSA
2014
Family Dynamics collaboration with Lakes Collective, Grasmere, UK
2013
ARTober Sine Dubio Arts Festival, Windermere, UK
Holy Detritus with The Wordsworth Trust and St. Oswald’s Church, Grasmere, UK
A Little Birdhouse In Your Soul solo exhibition of paintings, Ulverston, UK
The Lake Artists Society Summer Exhibition. Grasmere, UK
Nine Lives solo exhibition of paintings and poetry in Swarthmoor, UK
2011-2012
Back into my studio after a 5 year absence
2006
Red Wine, White Lies group show, Carlisle, UK
2005-06
Founded the Eyelevel Artists Co-operative
Group show entitled Coffee Morning, St. Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle, UK
2005
Heartbeat video and performance art. Borlange, Sweden
Make Capitalism History performance art at G8 Summit, Edinburgh, UK
2004
Blank Cheque group show, Carlisle, UK
2003-06
BA with Honours in Fine Art, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, studied painting under Kevin Philips
2002-03
HNC Art & Design, Ayr College, studied painting under Michael G Clark
2000
Peace exhibition of paintings in Islamabad, Pakistan
1997-2004
Dalton Storm Collective. Artists, poets and musicians engaged in guerrilla art, performance art, and spoof documentary
Other:
2000
Interview with BBC Countryfile programme, discussing my upcoming project in Pakistan
1997-present
Continue to write Zen poetry and haiku. Published in UK and overseas
A selection is contained within The National Poetry Library
1994
Interview with BBC Radio Scotland, discussing my Botany thesis
1992-94
BSc with Honours in Botany, University of Glasgow
Bard of Cumberland 