Karen is a writer and poet. She has previously worked as a magician’s assistant and a dancer. She holds a PhD from King’s College, London, a Master’s in English and Creative Writing from Bath Spa University and a BA(Hons) in Humanities, Creative Writing and the History of Art from the Open University. Her Master’s collection, Didicoy, was published in March 2023 and was the Poetry Book Society recommended reading pamphlet, Summer 2023. Karen’s debut poetry collection, Minx, was published by Chatto & Windus in 2025. It won the 2026 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize and is a finalist for The Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry 2026. Originally from a peripatetic GRT (Gypsy, Roma, Traveller) background, Karen is now based in Wiltshire.
Website: https://karendownsbarton.com/
