Caroline Smith was born in Ilford Essex, and studied Fine Arts (Sculpture) at Goldsmiths College, London University. She now lives in Wembley where she also works as the the Immigration and Asylum caseworker for a London MP. Her most recent poetry book, The Immigration Handbook, published by Seren, was shortlisted for the 2016 Ted Hughes Award. It was translated into Italian in 2020 by Paola Splendore and published by edizioni dell’asino. Smith has been widely published in journals such as Poetry Review, Agenda, Acumen and The Spectator. In 2022 she was shortlisted for the Alpine International poetry prize, The Keats/Shelley prize and Highly commended in the Patricia Eschen prize. In 2023 she won first prize in the EastRidge Review, Winter Green poetry competition.