Hello! I’m Ailsa Gillies and I’m a jack of all trades and a Master of one (literally!).
It all began with one of my mum’s many sayings: “The pen is mightier than the sword.” That stuck with me. I’ve always been a quiet rebel — I picked up my pen, I just needed a cause.
In a world fixated on weapons of mass destruction, I chose to wield a weapon of mass creation. My power has always been in my pen. So, after falling in love with Burns’ Poetry, books by Bronte, songs by The Smiths, dressing myself in 60s and 70s clothes, completing two degrees and working in many sectors across media and journalism – I landed in the corporate world. And it took me just over a year to realise it wasn’t very ‘me’.
So, I did what any ridiculous 24 year-old person would do: left my job and started my own business after a huge breakthrough (of course, I wrote about it here). I founded Ailsa Gillies Editorial on the things that mattered most to me: reconnecting with my creativity, fostering connection with communities, using my knowledge and expertise to empower others to use their voice. Why? Because I have a deep desire to create lasting impact in the world through storytelling. Somewhere along the way — I also wrote a book, Conversations with Nature.
So, here I am…
✨ Fostering connection through my Features on Bute and cultural & music articles.
✨ Empowering others through my writing workshops with Erskine Arts and working toward a certificate in Art Life Coaching.
✨ Connecting with my creativity through my own creative writing.
✨ And always, always striving for impact with everything that I do.
Finally, I’m a rebel with a cause. A little louder. A little softer — in a very hard world.
Where you might have seen me…
Hand-in-hand with my writing, I have a hugeeee love for global arts and culture. At just 19 years old, I landed my first double-spread feature article in a music supplement within The Alloa Advertiser and with its success, I became The Weekender’s music columnist. More recently I contributed my music reviews to Discovery Music Scotland.
You might’ve also seen me on BBC Scotland’s The Social, doing make-up looks through the decades. Or modelling and discussing my love for 60s, 70s and 80s music and fashion in On‘s (you know the famous running shoes brand?) culture magazine, ‘Off’. That’s one my mum keeps on the mantle piece.
I’m also known locally on Bute as ‘the girl that writes the articles’. That was after the investigative piece I wrote on CalMac and dared to touch on the sensitive subject of a bridge. Then came the 70s Bute article that I wrote for the Isle of Bute News, which, as you can imagine, went down a lot smoother.
But you’ll find with most of my work— I’m not afraid to rock the boat (pun fully intended).
The boring credentials
I graduated from the University of Stirling in June 2021 with a BA (Hons) in Film, Media, and Journalism (did I mention my love for global arts?). Then — because one degree clearly wasn’t enough — I went on to complete my MSc in International Journalism in 2022.
And just because I can’t help myself, I also took a course in Documentary Storytelling at University College London.
Do I sound like someone you want to work with?
Connection is at the heart of Ailsa Gillies Editorial — which is why I’m flinging the doors wide open to collaborations of all kinds. Whether you’ve got a project, an idea, or just need a little creative support — I’m here for it.
Drop me a line at ailsagillieseditorial@gmail.com and let’s create something meaningful together.
ailsagillies.com 