Oliver James lOMAX

In 2025 he won the Los Angeles International Poetry Film Prize for his collaboration with composer Pete Whifield, and has recently been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and The Forward Prize for his spoken word performance at The Globe.

Oliver has published 5 collections of poetry including ‘Burial of the Cameo’ (2023) – ‘Dammed fine poems, full of emotional resonance and vivid imagery; the world made fresh to the eye and ear.’ – Ian Rankin

In 2019 he released his first spoken word single described by Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) as ‘An unholy hybrid of John Cooper Clarke and Mark E Smith. He has finished recording ‘Low Sun – Small Englands’ a classical/spoken word album with members of The Halle’, Liverpool Philharmonic, and Manchester Camerata which will be released on July 4th 2026 at The Halle’ St Peter’s in Manchester.

‘Poems that dance with originality and are tenderly unafraid of love and belonging.’ – Mark Thomas
‘Beautifully written poems from a unique voice of integrity and spirit.’ – Maxine Peake