My writing emerges from the landscapes, languages and culture of Aotearoa and the British Isles—from the Peak District, Welsh hills and beaches, heather-covered mountains and ancient stone of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, to the black sand beaches of Aotearoa and sun-drenched shores of Australia.

After years in the urban rhythms of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow (and before that Auckland and Melbourne), I’m now based in the Isle of Skye, where I write surrounded by the Atlantic’s ever-changing moods.

My writing journey spans decades, with work appearing in various journals and anthologies since the mid-1990s. However, there has been a hiatus – an interruption brought about by life – and I am now reclaiming this creative journey anew. Early poems evolved alongside newer creations, reflecting my belief that poetry, like memory, remains alive and mutable. This evolution parallels my own movement between urban and rural environments, between northern and southern hemispheres.

My current creative focus explores the intersections of landscape and emotion; physical and mythological. Rooted in place my writing navigates loss and absence, time and distance and, in particular, those liminal spaces: thresholds between seasons, days, emotions and relationships.

As a Scottish-based architect for democracy and a passionate advocate for stronger governance, I’ve been described as a global leader in democratic innovation and civic participation, particularly around the intersection of digital, parliaments and citizens. If you’re looking for my work around innovation and democratic engagement, you will find it here.