As well as being a well-known poet, Rick (Willis the Poet), is an accomplished artist and social activist, working with CoLab to reinvent Dudley High Street through poetry and art. He created PoArtry a collaborative arts project in 2017. Along with Holly Wardale, Rick set up Makers Market Midlands celebrating the skills and talents of local, independent makers from in the Midlands, UK. He creates bags from well loved and disgarded clothing and sells them at markets, vintage shops and on folksy.com
Rick runs a monthly poetry slam event in Dudley bringing more spoken word to the Black Country and hosts a series of Comedy Poetry Nights in the Midlands and beyond. He hosts a monthly Verve Open Door in Birmingham and presents Brum Radio Poets as a monthly radio show.
Rick is also Co-Director of Verve Poetry Festival CIC.