Fe Duncan

Fe Duncan in her own words is a part-time artist, part-time writer, and full-time menopausal woman. She is also lead singer of Slalom D and many will have enjoyed one her quiz nights at Diego's Joint and The Ivy House. Her personal passion project over the last couple of years, has been the process of releasing her first book, which is available to pre-order now.

Born and raised in Sunderland, growing up on the streets of Roker during a time when the city’s heavy industry was hanging by a thread. She spent her weekends at Monkwearmouth Library, captivated by the magical staff, whom she believed, as a child, could conjure up any book imaginable. The comforting scent of the wood lining the interior made the library a haven for her. As a child of the 1970s growing into the 80s, she remembers street parties, the beaches as her front garden, and the sound of the Roker Roar echoing from the end of her street. She also became involved in the local Punk scene by her teens, something she feels gave her an armour in a world that she sometimes finds difficult, and since being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult it has helped her make sense of a lot of those difficulties.

Her parents played a significant role in shaping who she is today. Her mother, of Scottish heritage, came from a family of "Tinkers" - travellers who worked with metal and told eerie yet moralistic stories. Her father, a Mackem who worked in the shipyards and was also a brilliant storyteller, always encouraged her to be creative and think freely.

Fe’s new book, ‘Mother Marshall’s Make-Believe Menagerie’, is a beautiful story about a lonely old woman who lives in the forest. In search of companionship, she encounters various creatures, each with their own needs and ways of life. The tale gently explores the idea that finding your tribe can take time. The book is semi-autobiographical, with Fe dedicating four years to the illustrations. She created a cosy, nature-filled world using a limited colour palette designed to be accessible to neurodivergent readers. As Fe says, “I wrote a book for the kid I was.”

Sunderland is a city undergoing huge regeneration, its an exciting time to see wasteland give way to new developments and outside investment coming in, Fe says “that’s the thing I’m most proud of as we go hurtling through the 21st century, as a city we are off the ropes and back in the ring” but she is also aware we need to make everyone feel involved, “We have the potential for a great future, but we must ensure everyone comes along with us. We're fiercely proud of our working-class roots and full of passion and untapped talent. To reach our full potential, we need to support everyone in achieving theirs. Many voices in Sunderland have fallen silent—when people feel unheard, they sometimes stop speaking altogether. Our greatest achievement should be giving everyone a voice and a place in this new, amazing city”