I am a poet, writer, editor and tutor. I have worked in community and health settings in the Merseyside area for 20 years. I am a Lecturer in Continuing Education at the University of Liverpool. I have recently completed a 2-year role as Writer-in-Residence for The People of Anfield project in March 2025, a project that shared work in The Flowers Still Grow exhibition (Open Eye Gallery, Sept – Oct 2024) and publication, and in current public realm work in Anfield. This project was commissioned by Culture Liverpool and managed by Open Eye Gallery (where I have been an associate writer since 2016.) I am a Royal Literary Fund Fellow and run Reading Round, Liverpool for local people with one meeting each week until June 2025. I was RLF Fellow at the University of Chester (2022 to 2024).  My ninth publication, Vestige, a collaboration with photographer A J Wilkinson was published by Maytree Press in 2023. My pamphlet The Weight of Snow won the 2021 Saboteur Award for best poetry pamphlet. I was Poet-in-Residence at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust (2013 – 2020) and as founder and Project Manager for the local charity North End Writers (2006 – 2020). I have worked in universities since 2014 in various roles as a tutor, teacher and associate lecturer. I have worked on over 10 exhibitions with local people, photographers and artists.

I am a committee member of Liverpool Poetry Space.

I have a degree in Law, an MA in Creative Arts, a Diploma in the Lifelong Learning Sector and a PhD in Creative Writing.

Publications:

Vestige (Maytree Press, June 2023) with AJ. Wilkinson.

The Weight of Snow (Maytree Press, Feb 2021) winner of 2021 Saboteur Award for best poetry pamphlet.

The Ghost Hospital (Maytree Press, Oct 2019) shortlisted for 2019 Saboteur Award.

The Allotments (exhibition pamphlet) August 2019 with Dave & Arthur Lockwood.

Sleeping in the Middle (Open Eye Gallery, 2018) with AJ. Wilkinson.

Voices of the Benares (Lapwing Publications, 2014).

Waiting for the Brown Trout God (Headland Publications, 2009).

Playing Out Time (Driftwood Publications, 2005).

City Confessions (Lark Lane Poetry Books, 1993).

Awards:

2021 Max-Literacy Award: 2021 recipient of this award for a project on Writing Through Photography for Key Stage 3 with Open Eye Gallery and Wirral Hospitals’ School.

2021 Saboteur Award for best poetry pamphlet: The Weight of Snow (Maytree Press).

Liverpool University: LINK Knowledge Exchange Fund 2017.

AHRC 10th anniversary essay competition – overall winner, 2016.

Liverpool University: Centre for New and International Writing 2016.

Liverpool University: Bursary/award 2014.

Liverpool University: John Lennon Memorial Scholarship 2014 – 2018 

Liverpool Echo Environmental Award 2012 for project ‘Writing Well – Writing Green’ with North End Writers.