Hamish MacDonald is a writer and performer based in Scotland. He was Scottish Slam Poetry Champion in 2022 and came second at the Poesie de Coupe du Monde in Paris in the same year. Hamish also took part in the World Poetry Slam Organisation’s European finals in Rome in December 2022, qualifying for the World Poetry Slam finals in Rio de Janeiro in October 2023, reaching the semi-final stages and performing alongside some of the greats of world slam. Published in poetry and fiction and with a record of writing for radio broadcast, he was the first Robert Burns Writing Fellow for Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association (2003-2006) and the first Scots Scriever at the National Library of Scotland (2015-17). In the early 2000’s Hamish was one of the founders of the international award-winning Dogstar Theatre Company, writing several plays for Dogstar including the hard-hitting factual drama Factor 9 about the contaminated blood products scandal which has affected tens of thousands of people worldwide. Factor 9 was co-produced with Profilteatern in Umea, Sweden and premiered as part of Umea’s European Capital of Culture programme in 2014. In 2020 Hamish became the Bankies Bard, the official poet for Clydebank Football Club. You can find some poetry, song or story videos in the menu above (check oot Ma Bit) as well as info on books, plays, events and about Factor 9 and the contaminated blood scandal.
‘Truly the stuff from which dreams are made. You can see, hear, smell and taste not only Kilbowie but all of Scottish football in those verses.’… Irvine Welsh on ‘Kilbowie Dreams’
‘All of football is in life. And all of life is in football. And it’s all here in this lovely and varied collection. Magic stuff.’ … Sanjeev Kohli on ‘Kilbowie Dreams’
…a gorgeous new wee book which features stunning illustrations of bird life alongside Hamish’s poems…Janice Forsyth, presenter, The Afternoon Show BBC Radio Scotland
… (Wilson’s) studies were made with skill and love for his subjects. Now Hamish MacDonald has brought together a selection in an attractive book…Times Literary Supplement
…A lovely book of poems honoring a fine Scottish-American artist and scientist…fine Scots-inflected poems as would have delighted the poet-naturalist himself… now, thanks to this lovely volume of poems, Wilson has found his champion in Hamish MacDonald…*****Reader’s Review on Amazon