‘I feel like Ireland’s adopted me’ – How an English street artist won hearts across country posting letters for strangers to read

English author Jay Ventress has brought his Dear Stranger project across the world, but his recent Irish experience has had a profound effect on him

When strangers become stories: Meeting the letter writer who makes loneliness visible

An English author and street artist who has spent the last three years reaching out to strangers across the world in the form of anonymous handwritten letters has spoken about the incredible experience of bringing his project to towns and counties throughout Ireland.

Jay Ventress (29) has written more than 200 letters as part of the Dear Stranger project. Sixty of them are what he calls “canon” – the ones that talk about chasing dreams, feeling stuck, and documenting small, daily moments from every city he visits.