As a poet, Campbell has been described as " one of our most distinctive
and original voices". His poetry has won a number of prizes and he was
short-listed for the Robert Louis Stevenson Travel Award in 2006.
Campbell has been interviewed and read his poetry on BBC Radio 4, Radio
Scotland and on local radio. His poetry has been described as " reading
like something between jazz and prayer", which conveys "a deep ecology of
the spirit as the poet's mind enhances its reality".
Lallans, the
journal of the Scots Language Society, said of his last book "In
Campbell's wirk we kin see ensaumples o universal themes, whilk are a merk
o pure literature, an … poems wi doon tae earth realities. Campbell hes
got a fine ingine an he cud turn oot tae be the boy tae put the gust o
glamourie back intae Scottish poetry"*
The late George Bruce observed Campbell's poetry, " brought together
disparate experiences, which by a disciplined verse made one thing out of
what might have become diffused… nothing more is required in the oeuvre of
Scottish writing". He is the 'Featured Writer' in the current edition of
Orbis International Literary Journal.
Campbell's poetry has been published regularly in many of the leading
UK literary magazines and also in international journals. He has published
four books of poetry, his most recent collection, 'The Stone Operation' (Dionysia
Press, Edinburgh) came out earlier this year. One reviewer said of it "I
found the poems in this book intoxicating and exhilarating and I feel
disinclined to go looking for comparisons or even trying to judge it
against the rest of contemporary poetry. It has its own sounds, its own
rhythms - its own voice."
Campbell also writes literary essays and book reviews and is an
editorial advisor for
NorthWords Now, which has probably the highest circulation of any
Scottish literary magazine.
He has been published in the outdoor press and contributed the route
descriptions (almost a literary sub-genre) for new rock-climbs on the
Moray coast, which forms a section in the 'Northeast
Outcrops' climbing guide, published by the
Scottish Mountaineering
Club.
Campbell says his writing "developed from playing traditional songs and
music, initially concentrating on song-writing, but poetry was also very
much part of that whole activity". Psychology, sociology and, to an
extent, anthropology influence his poetry and he is also interested in
current affairs, philosophy, art and some aspects of science.
In terms of how he writes, Campbell said "I'm inclined to view writing
as a way of actively engaging with my environment, in the widest sense,
and my poetry has increasingly tended to respond to particular concerns or
explore specific themes. I think this probably results in me working with
a conscious determination, rather than relying purely on intuition". Some
of his work has commented on political affairs and has been published in
the national press.
Campbell has given readings of his work at various literary festivals
and other venues throughout the UK, sometimes with visual images (using
PowerPoint). He is also a registered tutor for creative writing workshops
and is registered with the
Scottish Book
Trust; he has done some unusual sessions, like a poetry workshop 'on
the hoof' on a mountain for a day; creating a 'River of Words'; and a
'poetry-art-book' two-day workshop (making the poetry and the book) with
the text-artist Catherine Whiteman.
Campbell's other interests and activities are in music, photography,
rock climbing, Nordic skiing and mountaineering, which have taken him all
over Scotland, to the Alps and the Himalayas.
* For those unfamiliar with the Scots language, this
'translates' as: 'In Campbell's work we can see examples of universal
themes, which are the mark of pure literature, and … poems with down to
earth realities. Campbell has got a fine faculty [or genius] and he could
be the person to put the appetite for [or zest of] magic [or enchantment]
back into Scottish poetry' (back)
