Born and brought up in England, where she worked variously as a librarian, tutor, and director of a tuition agency, Damaris West now lives close to the sea in south-west Scotland. She has for company an Italian rescue mongrel called Galileo, mostly cocker spaniel, who returned with her after the 13 years she spent in Umbria, central Italy. Her poetry has appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, such as Snakeskin, The Lake, Dreich, Blue Unicorn, Ink, Sweat & Tears and The Friday Poem, and has been placed in several national or international competitions. Her debut pamphlet is due to appear next year with Yaffle Press.