Has worked as a professional writer, poet and tutor for over 15 years. Is interested in social engagement, poetry and photography and writing and wellbeing.
Royal Literary Fund Fellow, University of Chester from Sept 2022.
Writer Associate, Open Eye Gallery from 2022.
Founder and Project Lead with Liverpool-based charity, North End Writers (2006 –2020).
Poet-in-Residence with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust 2013 – 2020
First writer-in-residence with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool (2016-2019).
Has an MA in Creative Arts and a PhD in Creative Writing.
Research interests include the work of American poet, Frank Bidart, poetry and madness, poetry and photography, writing and wellbeing.
Has wide experience working with communities and organisations in Liverpool, within health settings and working especially with vulnerable adults and young people.
Publications & Exhibitions:
City Confessions (Lark Lane Poetry Books, 1993)
Playing Out Time (Driftwood Publications, 2005)
Waiting for the Brown Trout God (Headland Publications, 2009)
Voices of the Benares (Lapwing Publications, 2014)
Sleeping in the Middle (Open Eye Gallery, 2018) Exhibition with photographer AJ Wilkinson.
The Allotments Exhibition at the Victoria Gallery & Museum with photographer David Lockwood and artist, the late Arthur Lockwood (Aug - Sept 2019)
The Ghost Hospital (Maytree Press, 2019)shortlisted in the Saboteur Awards 2020.
The Weight of Snow (Maytree Press, 2021) winner of 2021 Saboteur award.
Vestige (Maytree Press, 2023) a collaboration with photogrpaher AJ Wilkinson.
Poetry published in anthologies, magazines and journals including:
Morphrog, The Rialto, The Frogmore Papers, The Reader, Coast to Coast to Coast, Orbis, The Fat Damsel, Tilt, Ink,Sweat & Tears, Live Canon Anthology, Staxtes, Envoi etc.,