www.bookapoet.co.uk info@bookapoet.co.uk

Spicy Fingers was born in Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of 14, he

moved to the UK to live in Handsworth, Birmingham. After leaving

Handsworthwood Boys School at the age of 17, Spicy worked in the

restaurant and hotel industry for two years, before attending Garretts

Green Technical College, where he qualified as a chef in 1980. After

gaining considerable experience as a Gourmet Chef of French, Italian

and Caribbean cuisine, Spicy launched his own catering business in

1985 – hence the name Spicy Fingers.

Spicy Fingers is available for full or

half day workshops, performances,

as a guest speaker, and long-term

contracts as a workshop facilitator

and poet-in-residence.

Workshops start from £275 for a

half day and £475 for a full day, plus

travel expenses. Spicy Fingers is

based in Birmingham but travels all

over the UK. For further information,

to book Spicy Fingers or to check

availability, please email Lynsey at

info@bookapoet.co.uk.

A non-refundable 50% deposit is

required when making a booking.

(We will endeavour to re-arrange any

cancellations wherever possible.)

Our terms and conditions are

available at www.bookapoet.co.uk

and will be included with quotes / bookings.

Alongside managing his catering business,

Spicy furthered his interest in the arts by

painting, writing poetry and stories. Due

to his extensive travel, Spicy was inspired

to write a range of poetry based on his

many experiences, including personal life

experiences.On his first visit to Africa in 1997, Spicy bought

his first drum. This empowered his natural

creative abilities as a result of being connected

with the roots and foundation of the vibration

of word power and sound.

An example of Spicy’s aptitude to connect

life with creative expression, in 1994, whilst

working in a Caribbean Food shop, he was

motivated to create a ‘poetry poster’ called

A Hungry Man. This humorous poetry poster

was immensely popular and proved to be a

catalyst for Spicy’s poetry career. He went on

to produce and distribute a series of poetry

posters and calendars.

Spicy became a prolific writer of poetry and

due to much positive feedback from friends

and family he decided to self-publish through

his company Betterment Publications. In

1995, his first book, ‘Black Emotions’, was

published. To date, Spicy has expanded his

list of publications with the books, ‘Black

Inspiration’ (2000), ‘Black Adorning’ (2010)

and ‘Reflecting Black’ (2011).

As a result of writing and producing poetry

since 1986, to the present day, Spicy has

drawn inspiration from travel and research

he has carried out in a number of countries.

This has led to him developing his art in

different cultural and educational contexts

that has enhanced the richness and depth

to his writing. Importantly, feedback reflects

that the reader has kinship and ownership

of his poems through being able to connect

with the feeling and reality of the word. Being

recognised as a poet on the international

stage, as being one of the widest-read black

poets in Britain at present, Spicy is also known

as “the people’s poet”. This is because of his

deep empathy with and support from the local

and wider community.

Spicy has been engaged in poetry

performance and workshops at schools,

colleges and universities on a national and

international level. Thousands of children from

the ages of 5 upwards have benefited from

Spicy’s dynamic, energizing and participative

approach to poetry / story-telling.

Spicy’s most recent publication, ‘Reflecting

Black’, is an educational resource that can

be used as a tool, alongside the National

Curriculum. This anthology of poems

is supported by comprehension

questions which helps students

raise their level of attainment and

achievement in literacy. Furthermore,

in working through tasks in the book,

young people are guided to practically

apply their creativity in language based

activities. ‘Reflecting Black’ is a valuable

aid to teachers who wish to help young

people make meaning of real life issues

which we all encounter, from love and

relationships, environment, culture,

social responsibility, family values,

motivation, citizenship, manhood /

womanhood.Spicy continues his journey as a

poet and creative writer, while

supporting others to do likewise,

by running workshops with children and young people in

primary and secondary schools,

colleges and community venues,

as well as with adults, in a range of

communities.