1938. A chance meeting in a Paris café begins a story of friendship and self-discovery.

Art student Penelope has left behind her privileged family to join the surrealist movement. One winter’s day, she meets a mysterious, haunted woman who calls herself Suzanne. When Penelope’s artwork is shown at an exhibition, she realises that both she and Suzanne have been betrayed by members of the surrealist group.

The dislocations of war send Penelope and Suzanne on a desperate chase across France into Spain and finally to Lisbon. In the darkest of times, will they find a way to save each other?

A story of passion, creativity and courage, Swimming with Tigers is based on the real-life women surrealists who inspired great art but also wanted to be recognised as artists in their own right.

Swimming with Tigers is a new novel based on the women artists who came to Paris in the 1930s to join the Surrealist movement. This illustrated lecture explores the challenges and opportunities of researching and creating fictional characters based on historical figures.

Dr Kathy Hopewell pioneered the first courses in women’s literature at Bangor University in North Wales and went on to run the MA degree in Women’s Studies. She is now a full-time writer, independent educator and spoken word performer.