Andrew Johnston (poet)

Andrew Johnston (born 1963) is a New Zealand poet who has lived and worked primarily in the United Kingdom since 1985. He is known for his accessible yet sophisticated verse, often exploring themes of family, loss, memory, and the everyday.

Johnston was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, and educated at the University of Otago. After moving to the UK, he worked in various roles, including teaching and library work, before becoming a full-time writer. He has held residencies at the Wordsworth Trust and the Hawthornden Castle International Retreat for Writers.

His poetry collections include:

• How to Talk (1991)
• The Open Window (1999)
• Birds of Europe (2009)
• Solent (2011)
• Fits and Starts (2016)

Johnston's work has been praised for its clarity, emotional depth, and attention to detail. He is considered a significant voice in contemporary New Zealand and British poetry. He has won several awards, including the Kathleen Grattan Award for Poetry.

His poems have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies and have been translated into several languages. He currently lives in France.