400 word bio - press pack - feel free to edit/use for events
about:
Claire Hillier, known as Claire H ‘the poet’, is a poet, spoken word artist, and musician from St Helens, Merseyside. Nomadic by nature, she has lived in Winchester, Brighton, Stroud, and is now Bournemouth based. She self-published a no#1 bestselling poetry collection, and performs at numerous UK festival stages, and sell-out events. Her work has travelled from the House of Commons in London, to COP28 in Dubai. In 2014 she was a support act at the Winchester Discovery Centre for World Poetry Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield on his ‘Riled up and Wasted on Light’ tour.
Her work is grounded in confessional punk poetics, with a strong focus on social justice, equality, and empowerment. Published in anthologies about mental health & recovery, and sci-fi eco-poetics, her poems address the most prevalent and prominent issues of the cultural contexts we are co-creating. Claire H’s poems are about expressing deepest hopes and fears, connecting with ancestors, each other, and the world. Facing down demons, even with trembling hands. Finding the sublime divine in mundane everyday urban reality. Examining our relationships with our environments. Observing and embodying Nature.
Her work deals with topics such as; living through addiction, living in recovery, being late-stage diagnosed Autistic & dyslexic, the messy process of transformation, and finding her own creative voice amongst the rubble. Claire’s poetry lights up the darkest days with a blazing rebellious, cheeky, witchcraft that inspires, engages and delights audiences of all ages.
She often collaborates with musicians, and has performed her poetry with the iconic Tongue Fu band. The Bourn Jammy project, Claire hosted and performed at (poetry and improv music) headlined Bournemouth Writing Festival in 2024. Her entry to the Elemental Dialogues project (poem ‘Sestina’), won the Winchester 10 Days Arts Festival 2013, best poem entry award. This cross-disciplinary project developed as a collaboration between film-makers, poets, musicians, and dancers. The award winning project was installed at National Trust Mottisfont Abbey, and Winchester Guildhall.
She holds a degree in Creative Writing from the University of Winchester (2011), and works as a lead writing workshop facilitator with Artfulscribe. She runs writing workshops across Dorset. In 2023 she worked as an Assistant Poet Coach, for the Wessex team at the Apples & Snakes National WORD CUP!, culminating in a Live Streamed performance at Manchester Poetry Library.
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“Creating rituals and ceremonies of our own, we weave spells and spark change. Join the revolution.”
Claire H - the poet