Valerie Gillies

Valerie Gillies (born 1948) is a Canadian-born poet who grew up in Scotland. She was the second Edinburgh Makar (Edinburgh's poet laureate) from 2005 to 2008.[1] Gillies has also written for literary and arts reviews, BBC radio and television, the theatre as well as worked with visual artists and musicians.[2] She has also taught creative writing extensively.[3]

Valerie Gillies
Born1948
Alberta, Canada
OccupationPoet, reviewer, radio and television writer, writing instructor
Notable works'Tweed Journey (poetry)
Each Bright Eye (poetry)
The Ringing Rock (poetry)
The Lightning Tree (poetry)
Website
valeriegillies.com

Life and education

Gillies was born in Alberta, Canada, but grew up in southern Scotland.[1] She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the University of Edinburgh.[4] She also studied traditional Sanskrit dramas in Mysore, India.[5]

She lives in Edinburgh and is married to William Gillies, a Celtic scholar, with whom she has had three children: two daughters and a son.[6]

Career

As well as publishing collections of poetry and appearing in various Faber and Penguin anthologies. In 1992, Gillies was appointed Writer in Residence for Midlothian and East Lothian[2] in a scheme promoted by the two districts that was supported by the Scottish Arts Council.[7] Her other residencies include: The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, various district libraries and a large psychiatric hospital.

She was poet laureate ad vitam of the Trimontium Trust in 2002[5] and the second Edinburgh Makar (Edinburgh's poet laureate) from 2005 to 2008.[1]

In 2005, Gillies received a Creative Scotland Award to write The Spring Teller (2009), a book of poems inspired by Scotland's wells and springs.[8]

She spent 2009–10 and 2013–14 researching and writing as an associate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.[9]

Bibliography

Collections of Poetry
  • The Cream of the Well: New and Selected Poems (2015)
  • The Spring Teller, Luath (2009)
  • The Lightning Tree, Polygon (2002)
  • Men and Beasts, with photographer Rebecca Marr, Luath Press (non-fiction and poetry) (2000)
  • St Kilda Waulking Song, artist's book with Will Maclean, Morning Star (1998)
  • The Ringing Rock, Scottish Cultural Press (1995)
  • Poeti della Scozia Contemporanea, Supernova, Venezia [translation] (1992)
  • The Jordanstone Folio, with 12 artists, Tay press (1990)
  • The Chanter's Tune, Canongate (1990)
  • The Tweed Journey, Canongate (1989)
  • Leopardi: A Scottis Quair, Edinburgh University Press [translation] (1987)
  • Bed of Stone, Canongate, available from Scottish Poetry Library (1984)
  • Each Bright Eye, Canongate, available from Scottish Poetry Library (1977)
  • Poetry Introduction 3, Faber (1975)
  • Trio, New Rivers Press, New York (1971)

Contributions to Anthologies, selected
  • The New Minstels of the Scottish Borders, Deerpark Press (2006)
  • Tweed Rivers, Platform Press, Luath Press (2005)
  • Scottish Literature in the Twentieth Century, Scottish Cultural Press (2002)
  • The Faber Book of Twentieth Century Scottish Poetry, Faber (2002)
  • Love for Love and Atoms of Delight, pocketbooks (2000)
  • The Jewel Box CD, Scottish Poetry Library (2000)
  • Homage to the Carmina Gadelica, Morning star (1998)
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References
  1. "Valerie Gillies | Poetry | Scottish Poetry Library". www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  2. "New Writer is Chosen". The Lothian Times. 11 January 1992.
  3. "Valerie Gillies - Literature". literature.britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  4. "Calling aspiring writers and poets". The University of Edinburgh Bulletin. 6 December 1995.
  5. "Writer Profile: Valerie Gillies". The eildon tree, issue 8. Autumn 2002.
  6. "Valerie Gillies Poetry". www.valeriegillies.com. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  7. "Valerie is District's Writer-in-Residence". The Advertiser. 2 January 1992.
  8. "The Spring Teller - Scottish PEN". Scottish PEN. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
  9. "Valerie Gillies". The Royal Literary Fund. Retrieved 2018-02-23.
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