Dr Laura-Jane Foley

 

Dr Laura-Jane Foley is a writer, academic and performer.  She has an MA (hons) from Cambridge University, an MSt from Oxford University and a PhD from Kingston University. 

 

Laura-Jane was a tutor in History of Art and English Literature at Cambridge University.  Her academic research spans modern and contemporary art, Lucian Freud and his contemporaries, poetry from art (ekphrasis) and the Grand Tour. She has worked as a curator on several projects most recently on The Shakespeareans at The Club at The Ivy. 

 

Laura-Jane is also a creative writer and her poetry, short stories and plays are available to buy on Amazon and in bookshops. In 2009 she also conceived, compiled and edited The Butterfly Book a celebrity, charity art book which included work by Kate Winslet, Stephen Fry, Grayson Perry and Quentin Blake (amongst many others). In 2015, her play, 'An Evening with Lucian Freud'  received widespread coverage when it appeared at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End. She was trained as a librettist on the ROH2  programme at the Royal Opera House and she has worked with composers Stephen Barlow, Dimitri Scarlato, Tom Armstrong and Luis Soldado. 

 

Her articles have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers. She edited the Varsity newspaper at Cambridge University and the ISIS magazine at Oxford University. From 2008-2010 she was also the publisher and editor of Politick! a cross party political magazine for young people. Engaging young people with the political process remains a driving concern for Laura-Jane. 

 

A former Cambridge choral scholar, Laura-Jane still sings and performs regularly with The Bach Choir in London. She has sung on several CDs including the film soundtrack for Disney's Prince Caspian. She has also trained at RADA and the HTV West drama workshop. Laura-Jane has presented and contributed to a range of television and radio programmes; discussions ranging from art and poitics to reality TV. In 2008, she presented a film on the artist Mary Fedden. Other television, radio and film credits include Things Not To Say (BBC3), Channel 4 News (Channel 4), The Politics Show (BBC1) Greatest TV Moments (Channel 5), The Great Culture Quiz (Sky Arts), Faking It (Channel 4), The Breakfast Show (BBC Radio Oxford), University Challenge (BBC2),  Watch Over Me (KidsTaskforce), Perfect Woman (Olympus Productions).