Clare Shaw

I’m Clare Shaw: poet and performer, tutor and trainer.

I have four poetry collections from Bloodaxe: Straight Ahead (2006), Head On (2012),  Flood (2018) and Towards a General Theory of Love (2022).

I'm a regular tutor with a range of literary organisations - including the Poetry School, the Wordsworth Trust and the Arvon Foundation - delivering creative writing courses, workshops and mentoring sessions in a variety of different settings, with individuals at all levels of ability, confidence and experience. I work with the Royal Literary Fund and the Writing Project, supporting the development of writing skills in academic settings and workplaces. I'm the co-director of the Kendal Poetry Festival - and I’m involved in a range of innovative projects with artists and practitioners in other disciplines, including psychology, visual arts and music. I’m also a mental health educator. All my work is underpinned by a deep faith in language: words have the power to harm and help us, and powerful language can transform us as individuals, communities and societies.

Welcome to my website: here, you can find out more about me, my work, and my writing.

And as you can see, I’m a lover of high and watery places.

"Clare Shaw writes rawly and brilliantly

Jackie Kay

fierce and memorable

Times Literary Supplement

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Website: Jan Scott