Walsall poet, Ian Henery, is launching his 5th collection of poetry - Poems of Hope - next month with Kates Hill Press at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival and local artist Jason Fullwood  (JLF) has stepped up to provide the artist duties for the launch.  Other book launches at the Festival with Kates Hill Press include new works by Greg Stokes and Shaun Patrick Hand.    "Poems of Hope are indeed poems of hope" explained Ian Henery "that are born out of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The collection includes poems I was commissioned to write about COVID-19 and social distancing by Walsall For All.  While some are about what has befallen us others are about my home town of Walsall.  It`s an uplifting collection to provide us with hope in these troubled times".   Ian was delighted that Jason Fullwood was inspired to base some artwork around the poems and the COVID-19 pandemic.  "I have known Jason for some years", said Ian "and been to his exhibitions.  He is a fine artist with a good heart.  I am honoured and indeed humbled that he has created some artwork based on the poems".   Jason`s artwork, "The Destroyer of Worlds", depicts a woman wearing a facemask crying over the tragedy and fallout from the devastating affects of COVID-19.  A bench, soccer ball and walking stick can all be seen on the left indicating losses respectively.  The mushroom cloud is a symbolisation of her world being completely destroyed.  The medium is charcoal, pencil and pro-markers.   "I wanted to convey the affects of COVID-19 in one illustration to tell a narrative that everyone can relate to" explained Jason Fullwood or JLF as he is professionally known.  "In December 2020 everyone that I know either had tested positive for COVID-19 or knew someone that had caught the virus.  I also had COVID-19 over the Christmas period and was diagnosed positive on Boxing Day 2020.   I made a recovery but know full well the devastating effects it can have on someone who is considered "high risk".  I just hope that this year is the start of the healing process from the sheer hell that was 2020!"   JLF is a mixed media specialist, based in the West Midlands, who has had  a decorated artistic career to date.  JLF can be found on the following platforms:    http://www.facebook.com/jaayElEf http://www.instagram.com/j_l_f_/ https://www.etsy.com.uk/shop/XJLFX   Poems of Hope is available from Kates Hill Press at www.kateshillpress.com.