Clae Eastgate

'Air and Light’ A portrait of Carol Ann Duffy

About this artwork

The poet Carol Ann Duffy has said that to write poetry is ‘to excavate truth from silence’. Born in the Gorbals, Glasgow, she has become one of the most acclaimed poets of her generation. She has been a lecturer in poetry at Manchester Metropolitan University since 1996. In 2009, she was appointed Poet Laureate, making her the first female to hold this office in its 400-year history. When asked what poetry means to her, Duffy replied, ‘poetry has given me my life.’ The artist, Clae Eastgate has said: ‘In this depiction of her, Carol Ann is in contemplation. A pose she often adopts when thinking and drifting away into the world of words and poetry. Shortly after this moment she took up her notebook and wrote.'

Updated before 2020

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? Tell us what you think.

Clae Eastgate

Clae Eastgate