Carol Ann Duffy was born in Lennoxtown, north of Glasgow, and brought up in Stafford. She began writing poetry at school. Whilst at Liverpool University she began to publish her poetry and became widely known when she won the National Poetry Competition in 1983. She has published many books for adults and children and received numerous awards, including the Signal Poetry Award for children’s verse and the PEN Pinter Prize.

Duffy was appointed Poet Laureate in 2009, the first Scot and the first woman to hold the post. Her poems cover a wide range of subjects, from climate change (Atlas) and whisky (Drams) to the 60th anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation (The Crown). Duffy gives frequent public performances, promoting poetry to a wide audience. Her most recent collection of poems, Ritual Lighting, was published to coincide with this exhibition.