Reed began publishing poems in magazines and small publications in the 1970s. His influences include Rimbaud, Artaud, Jean Genet, J.G. Ballard, David Bowie and Iain Sinclair. Reed has a long history of publication with both Creation Books and Peter Owen, however his Selected Poems]] is published by Penguin Books. His recent art criticism appears in Cornermag: Gareth Lloyd Leaving the 20th Century. His latest novel to be published is The Grid.
He has collaborated with the musician Itchy Ear. They perform live under the name Ginger Light.