Lawrence Illsley is an award-winning Cornish poet now based in the Welsh valleys. His writing is concerned with identity and the ecology of place and travel, but rarely escapes the shadow cast by the loss of his parents. He completed an MA in creative writing at Birkbeck University receiving a distinction and the Sophie Warne award for his narrative poem A Brief History of Trees. His short poems have appeared in Shooter, MIR and The Atlanta Review and have been recently shortlisted for The Bridport, Marsden Poetry Village and Charroux prizes. His narrative poem ‘Astra and Sebastian’ was shortlisted for the International Proverse Prize. He is the Poetry editor of the Mechanics Institute Review (@MIRonline).
Instagram: @abriefhistoryoftrees
Twitter @Lawrence_poet