About

I live in the Brecon Beacons and take my inspiration from the mountains and rivers of this beautiful place. 

I came to poetry in my late 40s, having suspected I might be able to get something decent on paper but not confident of doing so. But having started, I was lucky to have a few magazine acceptances and I was off and running. 

I'm convinced that poetry has made me a more settled and fulfilled person; it's given me stability and goals I never thought possible to achieve.

I often joke that poetry is cheap therapy, but I think it can certainly help with anxiety and depression; it has done with me.

I'm told I have a unique and eccentric poetic voice; I'm glad I found that voice and long may I continue to use it!

Some competition highlights:

Shortlisted for the Bridport Prize (2014 and 2017)

Commended in the Prole Laureate Competition (2015 and 2021) and Prole Laureate for 2017.

Commended in the Welsh Poetry Competition (2015) and Highly Commended in 2017

Winner of the Wirral Festival Poetry Competition (2023)

I was a Hawthornden Fellow (2019)

Publications

"Bodies" (2015) "Cry Baby" (2017) Both via Indigo Dreams.

"The Lover's Pinch" (2018) "The End" (2019) "Wysg" (2022)  All via Arenig Press

instagram.com/garethwriterd/