Ian is a poet with a varied background of experience in commercial, charity and arts fields. He published a poetry pamphlet, The Stammering Man, with Templar poetry in 2010. Intermittent beings, his first collection, was published by Cinnamon Press in 2013 and further pamphlets, The sideways for it, from Flipped Eye in 2017 and White Goods from Flarestack in 2018. (Note to self, stop doing pamphlets and work on a second collection.) He has been a trustee of Magma Poetry, was assistant editor of Magma 51 and edited Magma 57. He is on the board of the National Association of Writers in Education. Ian’s poems have appeared in a wide range of magazines, including Poetry Review, Poetry Wales, Rialto and Shearsman. He has also won prizes in many competitions, including the National Poetry Competition, the Venture Award, Strokestown, Ware and Torriano competitions. His poem ‘Father lost lost’ was commended in the best single poem category by the Forward judges and appeared in the Forward Book of Poetry 2014.
Ian promotes Ouse Muse, a open mic group based in Bedford. He has performed his poetry nationally and led workshops for writers, community groups and schools. He was a writer in residence for London Open Garden Squares Weekend in 2015. Ian is very interested in opportunities to broaden the practice and appreciation of poetry, through readings, workshops or residencies. please contact him about any ideas you have.
Back in the mists of time Ian studied sciences at school, took degrees in psychology and philosophy and worked in the finance sector. He has four ‘grown-up’ children and a wonderful wife!
“Why did [Fat girl in the dark] win? Because it is a successful erotic poem, that rare thing. And because it is about so much more – the universe, belief, knowledge – big stuff, dealt with deftly…..without a sense of any pomposity. It’s a gorgeous poem.” – Roddy Lumsden
“His is an agile, precise language……ever forming itself, a glassy, shimmery experimental music that savours instability.” – Moniza Alvi
“It was obvious how much people enjoyed your reading by their enthusiastic response and the fact that so many stayed behind…….. You really made it for us” – Beyond Words
“A big thank you for all your hard work and support at the two events last week…..the feedback that we have had has been overwhelmingly glowing!” – Bedford Library Service
“A week since your brilliant reading at Ware …… if there had been a cd of you reading I’d have bought it. But I needn’t have worried – your poems work just as well off the page. In fact, I can’t remember the last collection I’ve found so inspiring – exciting, unexpected, enjoyable.” – A real person, really, spontaneously, identity protected just in case s/he changes his/her mind!
Click here for a list of Ian’s recent and forthcoming readings.
I am a poet writing in a range of styles from performance-led to page-based and limerick to avant-garde.