Alan Jamieson was born in 1958 in the crofting community of Sandness on Shetland. After publishing two novels (Soor Hearts and Thin Wealth) and a collection of poetry, Shoormal, during the 1980s, Alan Jamieson studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh as a mature student, before taking up the William Soutar Fellowship in Perth (1993-96). He co-edited Edinburgh Review from 1993 until 1998, and was Creative Writing Fellow at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, 1998-2001.

He currently teaches on the Creative Writing course at Edinburgh University. His most recent publications are a collaboration with the painter Graeme Todd, Mount Hiddenabyss (Fruitmarket Gallery, 2000), Ansin T'Sjaetlin: Some Responses To The Language Question (Samisdat, 2005) and Nort Atlantik Drift (Luath, 2007).