Elisabeth Sennitt Clough is a dual-nationality British/American poet who grew up in Cambridge, England. She has published two works of poetry: Glass (a pamphlet) and Sightings (a full collection). She is a recipient of the Arvon/Jerwood mentorship and an Arts Council ‘Grants for the Arts’ Award.
In 1998, Elisabeth studied English and Sociology at Anglia Ruskin University (formerly APU) for her BA. In 2001, she went on to complete an MA at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. She obtained her PhD from the Open University in 2010, where she studied under the supervision of Professor Dennis Walder. In 2013, she returned to study, undertaking an MA in Creative Writing with Teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Elisabeth has lived and worked in Jakarta, Indonesia; Panama City, Florida; Fresno, California; Reykjavik, Iceland; and Maastricht, Netherlands, where she was a member of the Maastricht Writers’ Group.
Now living in Norfolk with her husband and three children, Elisabeth is a member of a local writing group and regularly attends poetry readings and launches (for details of upcoming events, follow Elisabeth on Twitter). She is also the host and founder of CB6 Poetry Society Stanza Group.
Elisabeth counts Antjie Krog, Dorianne Laux, Corinne Clegg Hales and Les Murray among her poetic influences. She writes mainly narrative poetry, usually with a domestic theme. Yet, as Rebecca Goss suggests, ‘you will not find anything benign or cosy here. Sennitt Clough makes us look at things, not always comfortable things, using language that startles and excites.’
Publications include Glass (2016, Paper Swans Press) and Sightings (2016, Pindrop Press). Elisabeth has had poems published in The Rialto, MsLexia, Poem, Magma, the Bloodaxe anthology, Hallelujah for 50ft Women, Stand, Other Poetry, Ink, Sweat & Tears and The Cannon’s Mouth (see Publications for a comprehensive list). She has won, been placed or shortlisted for a number of competitions (see Competitions).
