Laura Scott was born and educated in Italy. After reading Law at Milan University she worked for the British Consulate from 1971 to 1980, when she moved to Edinburgh.

After a spell at the Italian Cultural Institute in 1984 she joined the staff of the Italian Consulate General until she retired at the end of 2002.

In 1986, while working full time, she was elected Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Scottish Centre of International PEN, the world-wide association of writers, a post she held until 1998, and then again from 2005 to 2011. During the earlier period she was actively involved in arranging the 1997 Edinburgh International PEN Congress attended by around 400 delegates from all over the world.

Laura has a great passion for her adopted country. She is particularly interested in the historical connections between Scotland and Italy and has written extensively about this. She has also published poems, articles and reviews in several magazines and newspapers.

A member of the Saltire Society since 1987, she is currently serving on the Committee of the Edinburgh Branch and is editor of its newsletter.

The widow of Paul Henderson Scott (1920-2019), long time supporter of the Saltire Society and its President from 1996 to 2002, Laura is committed to keeping his legacy alive.