How to Order





Please note, this webpage is no longer updated. Please visit the current bookshop website for an up-to-date listing.

All of our publications are available online via Amazon.

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info@alecfinlay.com

Please include the publication title, quantity, and your name and billing/delivery address in the email. We will then send you a Proforma invoice (including postage) with payment details; once payment has been received, we will dispatch your order


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white peak / dark peak
an audio-visual word-map of The Peak District National Park
Alec Finlay

white peak | dark peak is the most recent in a series of ambitious word-maps conceived by artist and poet Alec Finlay. It is an innovative combination of walking, letterboxing, Japanese renga and €eld-recording.
This catalogue is a guide to the project.

70 renga-views of The Peak, composed by 18 collaborating poets QR-codes that link to €eld-recordings of the poems and rivers guides allowing the reader to listen to the poems on location links to the website, where the poems are typeset as skylines
poems and commentaries.

Published: April 2010
Publisher: morning star publications, Derbyshire Arts Development Group
Format: 64pp, b/w with half-tone, paperback
ISBN: 978-1904477-09-9


www.whitepeak-darkpeak.co.uk

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Mesostic Interleaved
Alec Finlay

100 mesostic poems composed on an eclectic selection of 100 authors. Published to commemorate the redevelopment of Edinburgh University Library (2009), Mesostic Interleaved is a poetic bibliography of eminent thinkers in the fields of Science & Technology, Politics & Economics, Languages & The Arts. Each page has space for writing your own poems and notes.

Published: 2009
Publisher: morning star publications, The University of Edinburgh
Format: 120pp, colour, paperback
ISBN 978-1-904477-08-2



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Says You
Alec Finlay

A collection of poetry by Alec Finlay.

Published: 2009
Publisher: Oystercatcher Press
Format: 24pp, b/w, paperback
ISBN 978-1-905885-19-0



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Mesostic Remedy (hardback)
Alec Finlay
with Linda France, and illustrations by Laurie Clark

Highly Commended, Scottish Design Awards 2009

A poetical exploration of the remedial aspects, both physical and spiritual, that can be found in nature. Based on the 38 original remedies defined by Dr. Edward Bach, this beautifully illustrated collection of mesostic poems reveals both the negative and positive attributes of each natural cure, from agrimony through to willow.

Published: 2009
Publisher: morning star publications
Format: 164pp, hardback
ISBN 978-1-904477-06-8


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Mesostic Remedy (paperback)
Alec Finlay
with Linda France, and illustrations by Laurie Clark

Published: 2009
Publisher: morning star publications
Format: 160pp, paperback
ISBN 978-1-904477-07-5
 

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One Hundred Year Star-Diary

Alec Finlay
with Denis Moskowitz and Professor Ray Sharples

Star-Diary charts the major, as well as more unusual, astronomical events due to occur over the next one hundred years. It is designed as a workbook to be used and enjoyed by astronomers, astrologers, poets and writers alike. ‘These pages will outlast their authors and many of their readers. The invitation to stargaze remains a gift to hand from one generation to the next’ (Alec Finlay).

Published: 2008
Publisher: platform projects, morning star publications, Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society, Kielder Partnership
Format: 208pp, hardback, b/w
ISBN: 978-0955202711



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Specimen Colony

Alec Finlay
with Alexander Maris, Andrew Morley, Iain Pate and Jo Salter

Produced in collaboration with the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Specimen Colony draws on an exhibition of participative public sculpture that creates a series of colourful bird colonies composed as nest-box schema. A nest-box is a functional and familiar object and opened out, its form suggests the schematic figure of a bird. Finlay’s work transposes the colours of exotic birds found on foreign postage stamps onto these nest boxes. A project for a City whose emblem is a bird, the schemas and accompanying commentaries function as a contemplation on Liverpool’s global links through trade and migration, reflecting on the themes of dwelling and diaspora.

Published: 2008
Publisher: Liverpool University Press in association with platform projects and the Bluecoat Gallery
Format: 144pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978-1-84631-133-8


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Nose’s Point: a coastal walk
Alec Finlay

Catalogue of a series of mesostics, composed into a coastal walk at Durham Heritage Coast. Dedicated to the memory of Bill Griffiths.

Published: 2008
Publisher: platform projects, Durham County Council
Format: 24pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978-0-95520-273-5



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The Hill of Streams: Renga word-map
Alec Finlay

Published: 2008
Publisher: platform projects
Extent: 1pp, fold-out map, paper, b/w
ISBN: 978-0-95520-274-2



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Imagining Business

Alex Hodby, Lucy Kimbell and Nina Wakeford

Published on the occasion of the exhibition held at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Imagining Business explores the visual environment of the workplace and how objects, colour, symbols affect the operations of day-to-day business life.

Published: 2008
Publisher: platform projects
Extent: 36pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978- 0-95520-272-8


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Radical Loyalty

Chris Evans

Published: 2008, 2nd edn.
Publisher: platform projects
Format: 16pp, paperback, colour






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Entre-Vista

Peio Aguirre et al.
A collection of artists’ thoughts on books and publishing, including a contribution by Alec Finlay.

Published: 2008
Publisher: Xunta de Galicia
Format: 396pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-8-44534-709-6




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100 verses for 3 estates

Alec Finlay and Gavin Wade

Alec Finlay and Gavin Wade conceived a hyakuin renga word-map of the 3 Estates in Kings Norton, Birmingham. The book documents the creation of this highly innovative, public artwork as part of a regeneration scheme.

Published: 2007
Publisher: Strategic Questions
Format: 192pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN: 978-0-95516-119-3


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two fields of wheat seeded with a poppy-poem

a poem-narrative by Alec Finlay
with Caitlin DeSilvey, John Letts, David Easton, Alex Hodby and Maris

Published: 2007
Publisher: morning star publications, platform projects, Milton Keynes Gallery
Format: 16pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN: 978-0-95534-408-4


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Mesostic Laboratorium (Notebook)

Alec Finlay
with Ira Lightman, Tom Shakespeare, Chris Wood and additional poems composed by students from six secondary schools in the North East.

A 64 page anthology of mesostic poems composed on the names of scientists.

Published: 2007
Publisher: platform projects, morning star publications, Science Learning Centre North East
Extent: 64pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-0-95520-270-4



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Thought-Cloud Jotter

Alec Finlay, 2006
A 64 page jotter with a thought-cloud printed at the foot of each page.









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DtArNaCcEe DmAuNsCiEc

Alec Finlay and Andrew Hosdon

A field recording of dancers at Dance City (Newcastle upon Tyne), composed by Andrew Hodson

Published: 2006
Publisher: platform projects, morning star publications, Dance City
Format: 12 pp, paperback, b/w, with CD
ISBN: 978-0-95468-318-4


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siren

Alec Finlay and Chris Watson, with Clive Powell and Maria Jardardottir

A field recording of a sung performance in a North Sea harbour: audio CD and booklet, with poem-narrative.

Published: 2006
Publisher: platform projects, morning star
Format: 12 pp, paperback, colour, with audio CD
ISBN 978-0-95468-317-7


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Shared Writing: Renga Days

Alec Finlay et al.

Following on from Verse Chain, this second volume documents more communal poetry in the practices of renga and haiku. It illustrates the expansion of the Renga Platform, a project initiated by Alec Finlay and David Connearn, and introduces other renga forms such as hyakuin renga – one hundred verses composed by poets over a twenty-four hour period. ‘… renga goes beyond poetry: it is an art of communalism’ (Alec Finlay).

Published: 2005
Publisher: morning star publications, platform projects, BALTIC, Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Format: 128pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-95468-314-6


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The Book of Questions

Alec Finlay

An invitation for questions asked by 3-5 year olds was sent out and the questions were archived. This book presents a collection of those questions, posed at the time during which a child is beginning to make sense of the world in which he or she lives. Compiled by artist and poet Alec Finlay in collaboration with Creative Partnerships, The Book of Questions is a special collection of childhood insights into our daily lives.

Published: 2005
Publisher: platform projects, morning star, BALTIC, Creative Partnerships
Format: 64pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978-0-95468-313-9


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Avant-Garde English Landscape

Alec Finlay and Alex Hodby

Some versions of landscape, published to coincide with the exhibition Alec Finlay: Avant-Garde English Landscape, Bothy Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, 5 November – 23 April 2006.

Published: 2005
Publisher: Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Format: 80pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-1-87148-050-4


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Wind Blown Clouds

Alec Finlay

The second volume of cloud images collected from the slide archive conceived by poet and artist Alec Finlay. More amateurs and enthusiasts from around the world have responded to Finlay’s invitation to contribute their images of cloud formations. The result is another stunning collection of colour pictures – ‘small ones, fluffy ones, filets, broad bands, and golden towers’ – from an archive without end.

Published: 2005
Publisher: Rizzoli International
Format: 224pp, hardback, colour
ISBN 978-0-84782-711-4

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Three Rivers Crossword

Alec Finlay
with Ira Lightman, Beth Rowson and Sandy Balfour

A crossword map of the North East that follows the course of the Rivers Tyne, Wear, and Tees to create a word-map. The words and clues are an archaeological excavation of the geography, history and culture of the landscape.

Published: 2005
Publisher: platform projects, morning star
Format: 128pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-95468-319-1

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Rosengarten

Janice Galloway and Anne Bevan

A collaboration between novelist and artist exploring the history and mythology of obstetrics. Poetry, plant-lore, short-prose, sculpture and photography combine to provide an oblique meditation on cultural and medical interventions into conception, contraception and childbirth.

Published: 2005
Publisher: platform projects, Hunterian Art Gallery
Format: 96pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-95468-310-8


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Ideas Leave Objects Standing

A reader of new work by David Bellingham (1990–2002)

A major new collection by a Glasgow based artist and writer, includes graphic and typographic work, texts, poems and photographic pieces.

Published: 2005
Publisher: platform projects, BALTIC
Format: 96 pp, hardback, colour
ISBN 978-0-95468-315-3


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Isle Arcs, Circles & Ways

a guide to the Isle of Thanet by Alec Finlay

Circle poems for twelve letterboxes sited on the Isle of Thanet with guides by their keepers. Commissioned by Turner Contemporary and Thanet District Council.

Published: 2005
Publisher: Turner Contemporary, morning star publications
Format: 32pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978-1-90447-705-1


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Ludwig Wittgenstein: There where You Are Not

Guy Moreton, Michael Nedo and Alec Finlay

A major study of the various landscapes Ludwig Wittgenstein lived and worked in.

Published: 2005
Publisher: Black Dog Publishing
Format: 159pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-1904772163


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Mesostic herbarium

Alec Finlay

An anthology of mesostic poems on flora, with a CD-ROM.

Published: 2004
Publisher: morning star publications, platform projects, BALTIC, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, PACE, Creative partnerships
Edition of 1000 copies
Format: 208pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-0-95468-312-2


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turning toward living

Alec Finlay

An anthology of circle poems.

Published: 2004
Publisher: morning star publications, platform projects, BALTIC, Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Edition of 1000 copies
Format: 128pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-0-95468-311-5


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Friday 8 May

Alexander and Susan Maris

Artist book; 13 original photographs by Richard Demarco of Joseph Beuys in Scotland, re-photogrphed by Maris. This long text or prose poem, and accompanying photographs, are a response to Joseph Beuys seminal first visit to Scotland in May 1970, and include a series of carefully composed recreations of Richard Demarco’s photographs of Beuys’ first ever journey to Rannoch Moor.

Published: 2003
Publisher: platform projects, morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 64pp, paperback, b/w
ISBN 978-1-90447-704-4


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Verse Chain: Sharing Haiku & Renga

Alec Finlay and Martin Lucas

The classical Japanese art of renga is a thousand year old form of communal poetry, in which poets compose a chain of linked verses. This beginners guide to sharing haiku and renga contains all that you will need to organise your own event: guidelines for composing renga of varying degrees of difficulty, from a simple version that takes an hour, to a 36-verse renga that requires a day; and examples of contemporary renga. With essays by Martin Lucas, Alec Finlay, Gerry Loose, Brian Tasker, Caitlin DeSilvey, and photographs by Nina Sverdvik and Dylan Matthew.

Published: 2003
Publisher: morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 48pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-1-90447-701-3

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Wind Blown Cloud

Alec Finlay

Conceived by the poet and artist Alec Finlay, this beautiful first volume of images of cloud formations is borne out of the numerous contributions, made by amateurs and enthusiasts alike, to a slide archive housed at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead. Originally inspired by the Japanese poet Basho, who compares a journey he made to being drawn like a ‘wind blown cloud’, this book presents colour slides taken from the archive. The images come from all across the globe, reminding us that ‘we all live under the same sky’.

Published: 2003
Publisher: morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 56pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-1-90447-703-7


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Bynames

Alec Finlay

An anthology of invented bynames for real people conceived and edited by Epic Filley (Alec Finlay). This anthology includes a variety of ‘bynames’ for famous writers and artists, invented names, misspellings, and pseudonyms. The majority of the bynames in the book are invented names for famous writers and artists.

Published: 2003
Publisher: platform projects, morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 104pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-1-90447-702-0


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Cowboy Story

Alec Finlay, Richard Tuttle, Heather Deedman, Zoë Irvine

Artist collaboration of poems, drawings, and musical score.

Published: 2002
Publisher: morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 28pp, paperback, colour, with mini disc
ISBN 978-0-95276-693-3


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Football Moon

Alec Finlay

A selection of football haiku and accompanying illustrations by the artist.

Published: 2002
Publisher: morning star publications, BALTIC
Format: 28pp, paperback, colour
ISBN: 978-0-95276-694-0


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Flowers of the North Sea

Alec Finlay

An example of pure poetry in a scientific guise. Licence numbers of boats named after flowers are issued on a pack of cards; detailing individual boats by type (“Trawler”, “Motorised cutter”), full licence number, name, home port (“Eyemouth,” “Cuxhaven”), and flower family (“Culluna vulgaris”, “Rosa pimpinellifolia”). A simply presented package for the nautical, botanical, or poetry enthusiast.

Published: 1999
Publisher: morning star publications
Format: 32pp, paperback b/w, with 17 cards
ISBN 978-0-95276-697-1


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pocketbooks series

Justified Sinners

Ross Birrell and Alec Finlay

An archaeology of Scottish Culture (1960 – 2000), from Sigma and Conceptual Art to the Beltane Fire Festival and the K foundation., illustrated throughout.

Published 2002
Publisher: pocketbooks, morning star publications, Polygon, National Galleries of Scotland, CCA (Glasgow), Demarco European Art Foundation
Format: 208pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-74866-308-8


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Football Haiku

Alec Finlay
with photographs by Guy Moreton and audio CD by Zoë Irvine.

Football haiku are very short poems; the anthology celebrates football, from park games to the World Cup.

Published: 2002
Publisher: pocketbooks, Morning Star Publications, Polygon, BALTIC, Sadler’s Wells, STEC, Tramway
Format: 208pp, paperback, colour, with audio CD
ISBN 978-0-74866-309-5


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Labanotation: The Archie Gemmill Goal

Alec Finlay
with photographs by Robin Gillanders and audio CD by Zoë Irvine.

A notation and a dance of a beautiful goal; this companion volume to Football Haiku features studio, workshop and stage performances by Kathi Palitz and Andy Howitt.

Published: 2002
Publisher: pocketbooks, morning star publications, Polygon, BALTIC, Sadler’s Wells, STEC, Tramway
Format: 208pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-74866-325-5


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The Way to Cold Mountain

Alec Finlay
with photographs by David Paterson

A Scottish mountains anthology weaving together poetry, nature writing and mountaineering adventures.

Published: 2001
Publisher: pocketbooks, morning star publications, Polygon, An Tuireann
Format: 208pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-74866-289-0


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The Order of Things

Alec Finlay

The Order of Things presents the work of Scottish Concrete and sound poets within a national and international perspective. Concrete poetry has been called the last great episode of Modernism. It was a world-wide movement, born in Switzerland and Brazil in the 1950s, which continued the dynamic experiments of Futurism, Dada and Constructivism in poetry. Contributors include Edwin Morgan, Ian Hamilton Finlay and Tom Leonard.

Published: 2001
Publisher: pocketbooks, morning star publications, Polygon
Format: 208pp, paperback, colour
ISBN 978-0-74866-290-6


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Without Day

Alec Finlay
with an introduction by David Hopkins

An anthology of proposals for a new Scottish parliament. Without Day includes an Aeolus CD by William Furlong.

Published: 2000
Publisher: pocketbooks, Morning Star Publications, City Art Centre, Polygon
Format: 184pp, paperback, colour, with CD
ISBN 978-0-74866-277-7


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