Gillian Tait was born in Edinburgh and grew up in other parts of Scotland. She studied art history and painting conservation at the universities of Edinburgh and London respectively, and worked in the museum sector for many years before reinventing herself as a researcher, editor, writer and photographer. She is the author and photographer of 111 Places in Edinburgh That You Shouldn’t Miss and 111 Places in Fife That You Shouldn’t Miss, and also contributed to 111 Places in Glasgow That You Shouldn’t Miss as photographer and editor. She lives in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.