Gabriella Gay

Gabriella K A Gay is a mother, teacher, business owner and writer who channels her feelings about place, politics, identity and the everyday into passionate poems full of colour and rhythm.

Born in Trinidad, raised in London but made in Stoke-on-Trent, Gabriella is passionate about the potential of the area. Aged eighteen she moved to Staffordshire to read English Literature and Psychology at Keele University; she left with a first class degree, a newborn baby and a nomination for Student of the year 2007.

Since graduating Gabriella's writing practice has been rooted in community. She is the founder of Stoke's roaming poets, a group of local poets who take poetry to the streets. Gabriella has headlined poetry nights around the country and is regularly commissioned to write for or organise poetry events. A trustee of the New Vic Theatre, a cultural advocate and strong believer in the power of the spoken word she was the local poet in residence for Voices Nationwide. Gabriella was short-listed to be the first poet laureate of Stoke-on-Trent and is the current writer in residence at Hanley car boot sale.

Gabriella is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing at Keele University.