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, Burning Whins (2004). and the forthcoming The Shard Box (2010) She teaches creative writing for various bodies across Scotland including Scottish Poetry Library, National Galleries Scotland and a wide range of Education Authorities,frequently collaborating 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 had a Year of the Artist Award in 2001.
She was co-editor of New Writing Scotland for the ASLS 2006-2009.
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. She co-writes the SQA Advanced Higher English & Communication exam and is a marker for Advanced Higher Creative Writing.

GENRES: Poetry, Non-fiction

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Poetry

English and Scots poetry published In many Scottish magazines and anthologies, Herald, Scotsman, Independent,

Poetry anthologised in Canongate Modern Scottish Women Poets, New Writing Scotland, Scots Poems to be read aloud, Across the Water, The Wallace Muse, My Mum's a Punk, Ten Seasons, 100 Famous Football Poems, 100 favourite Love Poems, Chuckies fir the Cairn, Edinburgh An Intimate City.

Translations: De Wrald yn bitterswiet, Migraasje.

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 & Events 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 Readings include Edinburgh Castle 2008 Antonine Wall World Heritage bid, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood.

Swanwick Writers' Summer School.

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

Words Without Borders USA
Poetry Festival Lithuania 2006 (PHOTO FROM OUTDOOR READING)
Bookworm Literary Festival, Beijing & Suzhou 2006/8 (PHOTO FROM BRITISH COUNCIL)

Shanghai Lit. Fest.2008

Finland: Espo Library & Cultural Centre. 2008

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.

Bookings: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 many Scottish Authorities.Examples below of some venues (have given up adding to the list below!)

Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
Angus Schools Residency: Primary & Secondary Poetry Pathways

SQA Stirling

Callendar House, Falkirk, May

Carnegie Library, Ayr

Moray House Edinburgh

Greenock Writers

Lockerbie Primary School

North Berwick High School.

Beijing,Chengdu & Suzhou Bookworm Literary Festival Shanghai Literary Festival.

Harrow, Dulwich and British International Schools, Limai Chinese School, Beijing.

Tapiola Library,Espoo, Finland

Strathclyde University,

Aberdeen schools, Aboyne, Kemnay,Westhill, Portlethen etc
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
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

Strathclyde University, Jordanhill Campus

Dumfries & Gallwoay Schools: Various Projects