HE MAY not be Poet Laureate but John Hegley, who describes himself as a "bespectacled dog-loving poetic type", is better known and certainly more popular than the man who fills that role.

He has eight best-selling books of verse to his name, and will appear at Cwmbran Library on Wednesday, February 25, to perform pieces from his latest, The Sound Of Paint Drying.

The title poem follows John on a trip to Nice to paint a scene which was also captured by his French father seven decades ago. It also features his whimsical musings on romance, throat sweets and blancmange.

He said: "It's a variety book in terms of mood. One of the strands is about going to paint something my father first painted 70 years ago in France, so that's a fairly weighty concept, but after that there are poems about Strepsils.

"I consider myself an artiste - writer, performer - that's my job. If people didn't laugh they might complain.

"I do poetry as well and project my own things and get the audience involved. I had a lovely festival up in Edinburgh. It's a fantastic thing - on our island, one of the best or maybe even the best arts festivals in the world, and I've been to quite a few.

"Most people are familiar with my work from having seen me in live performances, but it's my first time in Cwmbran."

While he may not have played here before, John has already immortalised Gwent in a limerick: "There once was a woman from Gwent,

"Who was useless at pitching a tent,

"She hammered a peg through a bone in her leg and immediately after she went, AAARGH!"

John Hegley comes to Cwmbran Library on Wednesday, February 25.

Tickets are £5 or £4 concessions and include a glass of wine. The performance begins at 7.30pm and will be followed by a book-signing with John.

To book call 01633 483240.