Edwyn Collins

Born in Edinburgh in 1959 Edwyn Collins has pursued a solo career as a musician, as well as working as an illustrator, television actor, and producer. His life long interest in ornithology and art has always been present. "When I was a Boy, I could identify every British bird, most of them on the wing."

During the late 1970's his band Orange Juice enjoyed great success as a major force in the post punk era with hits including ‘Rip It Up’. In the 1990’s his solo career continued to inspire, with songs such as ‘Never Met A Girl Like You Before’. In 1994 he produced his third solo album, Gorgeous George. He has worked extensively as a record producer with other artists, including The Proclaimers, A House, Space, Robert Forster, The Cribs, Franz Ferdinand, and Little Barrie. In 2005, Collins produced the album The New Fellas recorded by The Cribs.

In May 2009, Edwyn Collins was presented with the Ivor Novello Inspiration Award in recognition of his struggles following a double brain hemorrhage in 2005, which left him partially paralysed and only able to say his wife’s name, the words ‘yes’ and ‘no’ and ‘The Possibilities Are Endless’. Inspired by a book on British Birdlife Illustrations by the Victorian artist Archibald Thorburn he once again began to draw. During the last five years he has continued to make a remarkable recovery, through drawing, writing, recording and performing his music, physiotherapy; and the love and care of his wife Grace Maxwell and son Will.