Jess Smith (writer)

Jess Smith BEM (born 1948) is a Scottish writer and storyteller. Her work focuses on the experiences of Scottish Travellers. She has written seven books, including an autobiographical trilogy recalling her own childhood experiences, and a booklet on Traveller Dialects (with co-author Robert Dawson). In 2014 she led a campaign to save the Tinkers' Heart, a Scottish Travellers' monument in Argyll, Scotland.

A well known storyteller and public speaker, Smith has raised awareness of Scottish Travellers at schools in Perth & Kinross, Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Lothians, Leeds, the Highlands and Islands, Suffolk and London, and at libraries, prisons, universities, clubs and Church groups. She has spoken at Story Telling Festivals in Scotland, England, Australia and Ireland, and at Book Festivals throughout the UK in addition to leading writing, story telling and traditional singing workshops. She has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the Traveller community.