Sylvia Colley was born in Eastleigh, Hamshire. She became an English teacher and spent many years as head of English at the Purcell School in North London.
She has published two books of poetry, Juliet and It’s Not What I Wanted Though and a novel, Lights on Dark Water, to good reviews. Her poetry has been read on BBC Radio and a documentary The Tale of Three Daughters, about her life and work, was produced by Piers Plowright for Radio 4. She lives in Pinner, Middlesex.