Bell Jar, formed by prize-winning poet Jo Bell in 2003, is not named after Sylvia Plath's novel but after the vessel which 'protects fragile objects and allows experiments to take place in a safe environment'. All Bell Jar work tries to meet that description.

Jo is a writer and performer, facilitator, workshop leader, editor, live literature promoter and manager of creative projects across the UK. Her main job is to co-ordinate National Poetry Day, for which she is the Director. She is also a director of Living Derby and a trustee of Ledbury Poetry Festival.

Jo devised the online/ hard copy writing project Bugged and is currently writing a play for young people with Action Transport Theatre. She was one of the artists included in the Companion Stones project, to put new poetry stones in the moors of her native Peak District.

Formerly a professional archaeologist, Jo retains a strong interest in historic landscapes. She is based on 67' narrowboat Tinker which moors in Cheshire for the winter. In summer 2010 she will, as usual, be travelling on the boat - possibly to Worcestershire. She will poke your eyes out if you call Tinker a barge - it's a narrowboat, okay?