About Liz

About Liz | Educational | Residencies | CV |  Podcast | Event Poster

Curriculum Vitae

Liz Niven is the author of several poetry collections, including Stravaigin (2001 re-printed 2006) and, most recently, Burning Whins (2004). She teaches creative writing and has held writing fellowships throughout Scotland. Her work includes various projects with visual artists, photographers and artist’s book makers.
The public art work Cree Lines (2000) in South West Scotland was a collaboration with Alan Lees, Samvado and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Liz Niven has received two Scottish Arts Council Writers’ Bursaries in 1996 and 2003 and was an award winner for the third time in the Glasgow University, McCash Scots Poetry prize.
She is currently co-editing New Writing Scotland for the ASLS
She has held posts as an English and Learning Support teacher, Scots Language Development Officer and a Cultural Co-ordinator for Creative Writing in schools in south west Scotland.
Much of her academic and editorial work has been related to furthering the use of Scots in the Scottish curriculum.

GENRES: Poetry, Non-fiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Poetry

English and Scots poetry published In many Scottish magazines and anthologies, Herald, Scotsman, Independent, anthologised In Canongate Modern Scottish Women Poets. Her poetry and language articles are also published In the USA, Canada, Slovakia, Lithuania, Czech Republic and Friesland. Poetry broadcast on BBC Scotland, Ulster, Radio 4, World Service, China Radio International.

PRIZES AND AWARDS

• McCash Poetry       2001 (2nd),2003 (1st) , 2006 (2nd prize)
• Scottish Arts Council Writers’ Bursary                1996, 2003
• Saltire/TESS co-authored books                             1997, 2002
• Year of the Artist, Scottish Cultural Enterprise  2001

Appearances at Literary Festivals include:
Edinburgh International Book Festival, Stanza, Burns Festival, Ayr, Ars Poetica Slovakia, Lithuania Poetry Festival, Bookworm Beijing & Suzhou,Shanghai Lit.Fest.,Bute Literary Festival , West Dunbartonshire Festival, Wigtown Book Town, Crail Festival, Ards Peninsula, N.Ireland

Poetry and language work  outwith UK:
Friesland ,Jutland, Denmark – European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages
Catalonian Women PEN Barcelona
Provence Apare/SNH Land Art Project Poet-in-Residence 2004
Ars Poetica: Poetry Festival, Slovakia, 2004
Poetry Festival Lithuania 2006 (PHOTO FROM OUTDOOR READING)
Bookworm Literary Festival, Beijing & Suzhou 2006/8 (PHOTO FROM BRITISH COUNCIL)

Shanghai Lit. Fest.2008

Her work has been translated into Lithuanian, Slovakian, Frisian and Mandarin

Non-fiction work includes reviews and articles. Perspectives:
British Council in Eastern Europe, Ullans in Belfast, TES, Herald, Education in the North, ASLS,  English Drama Media: National Association Teachers in Education, Scottish Education (Eds,Bryce & Hume) Belfast Studies in Language, Culture and Politics, Lallans, BBC Arts Programme, DGBLife, Writability. British Council website.

Recent bookings:

Angus Schools Residency,  Spring 2008

Greenock Writers Spring 2008

Lockerbie Primary School

North Berwick High School.

China itinerary March 2008:

Beijing & Suzhou Bookworm Literary Festival

Shanghai Literary Festival. Harrow and British International Schools, Beijing.

Tapiola Library,Espoo, Finland April

Strathclyde University, April

Aberdeen schools, Aboyne, Kemnay,Westhill, Portlethen
West Dunbartonshire Literary Festival
Wanlockhead Poetry Residency
Women’s Day, Annan
North Berwick CPD teachers fro Scottish Poetry Library
Poetry Festival Lithuania (with Glasgow poet Brian Whittingham)
Amisfield Primary School, Mammal Project for Scottish Natural Heritage
Arts across the Curriculum, Greenriggs Primary School, West Lothian
Forrester High School, Edinburgh City Council Waste Aware Project
Poet in the City Residency, Buckie High School for the Poetry Society London
Keith Arts Morayshire
New Abbey Primary with Historic Scotland, Caerlaverock Castle
Royal High School, Edinburgh City Council Waste Aware Project
Edinburgh International Festival, the Writing Business
Crail Festival
Poetry Doubles, Moffat Theatre DGAA
Poet in residence, Bookworm Beijing Literary Festival.
British Council, Beijing
Harrow International School, Beijing
SETT conf., Literature in Learning, Curriculum for Excellence
Westwords for Wigtown Book Town Literary Festival
Douglas Ewart High School, Stranraer Academy
Ayr Writers
Wanlockhead (with artist/bookmaker Hugh Bryden)
Knox Academy, Haddington for SPL
National Gallery, Edinburgh Venus exhibition
Moray House at Scottish Poetry Library
Kist o Wurds, BBC Ulster
Jordanhill Campus, Strathclyde University
Poet-in-Residence: Provence Land Artists Project SNH    2005
Poet-In-Residence, St.Ambrose, Primary, Glasgow                 
Poet-In-Residence, Stewarton Academy, Ayrshire
Poet-In-Residence, Buckie High School                                         
Well Versed: West Lothian Poetry Project

Liz Niven has more than 20 years experience as a creative writing tutor. She regularly holds residencies, short and longer term, across Scotland.
These have been hosted by the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Book Trust and the Poetry Society of London as well as individual Education, Arts teams and City Councils, Scottish National Gallery, Historic Scotland.  She has facilitated creative writing for pupils and staff through CPD in  Scottish Authorities.