Graeme Harper's family settled in Sydney in 1963 and he graduated from Sydney University in 1981. He holds a BA, MLitt, and doctorates from the University of Technology, Sydney, and from the University of East Anglia. He was Director of the Development Centre for the Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Wales, Bangor, before becoming Professor and Head of School at the University of Portsmouth.. Founding CEO of the UK Centre for Creative Writing Research, he is also founder and co-editor of New Writing: the International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing.
Harper has worked in the fields of Film and Media Studies and his critical publications include works on the practice and theory of creative writing, a range of publications in the field of film studies, along with work in other areas (eg. performance studies, colonialism/postcolonialism, literary studies, cultural criticism). His creative work includes novels, short stories, screenplays, films, TV scripts, plays, works for children and multi-media work (web & DVD).
Harper's awards include: National Book Council Award for New Fiction, Premier's Award for New Fiction; and grants and fellowships from: AHRB, British Academy, EU Commission, Commonwealth Universities, Arts Councils in England and Wales, BFI, Eastern Frontier Society, National Endowment and the Knowledge Exploitation Fund.
