Patrick Kelly was born and brought up in Belfast.

He is a freelance journalist and editor,  who has contributed to a number of newspapers and magazines in the UK and Spain, including the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Independent on Sunday, Irish Times, Evening Standard, New Statesman and the Times. 

He writes regularly on the arts for Museums Journal, Arts Industry and a number of other publications. He is Northern Editor of Arts Industry.

He is a graduate of the Creative Writing school at the University of Limerick.