Graeme Johnson is a Poet who writes and performs both traditional and original verse following in the footsteps of Australia's rich heritage of rhyme and meter.

Known as "The Rhymer from Ryde", Graeme hails from country NSW and has lived in inner city Sydney since 1991.

After meeting some colourful characters called "Bush Poets" in 1994, Graeme was inspired to combine his love of language with 25 years of theatrical experience to take his poetry "back to the people".

Often described as "painting pictures with words", Graeme uses his skills to draw his audience into his stories about our Great Southern Land and its people.

Whether it is his recollections of travels in the countryside, his love of our colonial history, or reliving the experiences of the bohemian residents of Sydney's past, Graeme is drawn with fierce patriotism to embrace the virtues that makes us the "Aussies" that we are today.

Since dedicating himself to a life of poverty (being a folk artist) some 5 years ago, Graeme's bookings have taken him right around the Country. Also a popular Master of Ceremonies, Graeme's standing in the arts community has also seen him invited to judge both written and spoken poetry competitions (such as the NSW, VIC & Sth Aust Bush Poetry Championships) on a regular basis.

In recent years Graeme has combined his performing versatility with his managerial experience to branch out into directing/organising various Poetry events for clients well outside the Folk Festival genre. These include the Galston Country Music Festival (1999-2005), The South Coast Country Music Festival (2000 & 2002-05) and Hornsby Shire Council's Australia Day Bush Picnic and Olympic Torch Relay Day (2000).

He has won the prestigious Banjo Paterson Writing Awards 2004 (for Bush Poetry), the John Dunmore Lang Poetry Prize and been runner up in both the Henry Lawson Society of NSW Adult Literary Prize and Leonard Teal Memorial Spoken Word Award. He has also been a top 10 finalist in the Australian Bush Poetry Championships on many occasions.

In the last 10 years Graeme has received over 70 awards (across written & spoken word competitions) for his Bush Poetry, Free verse, Limericks & Yarnspinning.

He is published both in magazine and book form, has appeared in 17 Anthologies of Australian poetry and appears regularly on radio.

He has produced two books of original verse:"Selected Irregular" in 1980;"Just the Way It is" in 1997; One cassette "The Rhymer from Ryde" in 1999 and Two CD's; "Land Ho" in 2001 and "Lager, Laughs & Lies-Live!" in 2004