Ashby McGowan is a poet, historian, playwright and activist whose work has been published in magazines, newspapers and journals. He fights for human and animal rights, and particularly for peace.

In 2008 one of his human rights poems was featured by the United Nations, who emailed it to their contacts all around the world.

Ashby is heavily involved in the creation of multi-voice, multi-language poetry. Chromatic Voices, the group he performs with, have appeared at numerous human rights festivals, at the Scottish Parliament and have toured throughout Scotland.