The Writers of Wales Database

PARRY, GWYN

Gwyn Parry is originally from Ynys Môn. He graduated from Newport College of Art and Design and has worked in Wales and Ireland as a Designer/Artist. He now lives in Talysarn near Caernarfon but maintains strong connections with Ireland. He writes in both Welsh and English and was the main facilitator of the Dublin Writers’ Workshop for over five years. Gwyn has a great deal of workshop experience and has lead courses at Snowdonia Writing Weekends, as well as tutoring at Coleg Menai, Bangor.

His work is widely published in poetry journals in the UK and Ireland, including Poetry Wales, The Anglo Welsh Review, Planet, Taliesin, Poetry Ireland, Cyphers, The Shop, Fortnight, The Stinging Fly, The Connaught Tribune, Acorn Magazine, Internationalist Magazine and Staple. He has a great deal of experience in giving poetry readings including being a guest reader at Tŷ Newydd, Beaumaris Arts Festival and Borders Bookshop, Chicago, USA. He regularly performs his work with the reggae band Redstripe and has been interviewed on BBC Radio 3, ’Anna Livia’ Radio, Dublin and on S4C.

Gwyn also performs his work using backing tracks and accompanying himself on the harmonica. To listen to some of his work, click on the sound fiel at the bottom of this entry. His performance also uses films/projections. His poetry covers a wide variety of subject matter; offering a keen appreciation of the natural world, and insightful look at contemporary relationships and, at times, a humorous take on modern life. Gwyn is currently putting together a new collection of poetry and is also in the process of writing his first novel.

Selected Publications:
The Hurricane (Poetry Wales, 1988)
Mynydd Parys (Seren, 1990)
Crossings (Salmon Press, 1998)

Contributed to:
Poetry Work (contributor)
’Live at 3’ RTE 1 Competition 1993 (contributor)
’Live at 3’ RTE 1 Competition 1995 (contributor)
The Street and the Stars: Poetry for Schools (contributor) (Poetry Wales Press, 1995)
Burning the Bracken: New Welsh Writing (contributor) (Seren, 1998)
Out to Lunch (contributor) (Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, 2003)
Salmon Poetry (contributor) (Salmon Press, 2008)