Liz Lochheadwas born in Motherwell in 1947. While studying at the Glasgow School of Art she began to write seriously, gradually losing her way with her initial dream of becoming a painter. Her first book of poetry,Memo for Spring, was published in 1972 and sold 5,000 copies. The Scottish-Canadian Writers Exchange Fellowship,1978-9, marked her transition to full-time writer. She has since published several plays and poetry collections includingA Choosingandmost recentlyFugitive Colours. Liz Lochhead was Scots Makar from 2011-2016.