Spaceship: Richard O’Neill and Shamus McPhee on creating a book for children

Richard O’Neill, a Romany storyteller and writer based in Manchester, and Pitlochry based, Nacken artist, Shamus McPhee are currently working together to create a children’s book.

Richard O’Neill grew up in a large traditional nomadic Romany family. He is a well respected storyteller, an award-winning writer and has many of the traditional craft skills that were so important to previous generations. Richard has already published several children’s books such as Yokki and the Parno Gry and The Lost Homework.

Shamus McPhee is from a long line of Nackens who were forcibly settled in a racial experiment in the 1940s.  He  is a widely exhibited artist.  Shamus studied languages at Aberdeen University and gained a postgraduate diploma in Translation Studies from Warwick University.  He was an expert witness in the landmark case establishing the legal ethnic status of Scottish Gypsy/Travellers and is a founder member of the inter-cultural organisation RAJPOT.