Biography

Born in Dundee, Paterson left school to pursue a career in music, moving to London in 1984. At about this time he also began writing poetry. Stints in Brighton and Edinburgh followed as he developed his twin pursuits, forming the jazz-folk ensemble, Lammas, in the late 1980s and published his first poetry collection, 'Nil Nil' (1993). This won the Forward Prize for the Best First Collection and secured him a place in the Poetry Society's 'New Generation Poets' promotion. Subsequent collections included "God's Gift to Women" and 'Landing Light', both recipients of the T S Eliot Prize. Other publications include a collection of aphorisms, 'The Book of Shadows' (2004), and his version of Rilke’s Orpheus (2006).

Paterson has been poetry editor at Picador, and taught at the School of English, St Andrews University. He lives in Kirriemuir, Angus.

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