Writer, Producer, Performer

A woman with long brown hair is speaking into a microphone. She is standing in front of a large window with wooden frames, and there is a large screen displaying the name 'Katy Swainston' to her right. The audience is seated in front of her.

I’m an award-winning writer, producer and performer who works across comedy, factual and prose.

My writing spans everything from Sky’s A League of Their Own to the National Gallery’s Picture of the Month.

Photograph by Steve Cross

Katy Swainston, a woman with brown hair is holding a clapperboard with 'APPLAUSE' written on it, seated indoors against a brick wall background, smiling, with a blue door and fire exit sign behind her. 
About me

Hello! I’m Katy and I love to write stories and make films.

I’m originally from the North East of England but have lived and worked all over. I’m state-educated and the first in my family to go to university, which shouldn’t be as big a deal as it has been.

I allow one Cheryl Cole impression per meeting before I start doing your accent back to you.

My first script was about working a museum. It unexpectedly ended up as a semi-finalist in The Sitcom Mission, which made me think about what I really wanted to do in my career.

A few years and a stint at the National Film and Television School and Faber Academy later, writing and filmmaking is now my job.


What I’m working on

My novel, ‘Better’

My microfiction and short story collection

My short films ‘Avocado’, ‘Go Fund Her’ and ‘DeathTok’

Some vertical shorts for comedians I love

Going to festival screenings for the wonderful ‘Baby On Board’ which I co-wrote with the equally wonderful Jamie Luke Milligan