BARBARA Dickson had been dubbed the most successful Scottish female artist of all time, and yet the trappings of fame and celebrity are concepts completely alien to her.

Utter the word star at your peril– she just cannot abide the label.

“I’ve never been a star. I don’t see myself in that way and I never have,” she explains in her soft, melodic voice.

“I never had a house with a swimming pool and I never wanted to let people think I was anything more than they were. Celebrity is a hugely embarrassing label.”

Her life as a ‘travelling folk musician’ was thrust in an unexpected direction when old friend and playwright Willy Russell offered her a role in his 1974 Beatles’ musical ‘John, Paul, George, Ringo… and Bert’ . She went on to win an award for Best Actress in a Musical from the Society of West End Theatres for her performance in another of Russell’s productions in 1983: Blood Brothers.

But back to the 1970s. After seeing Barbara on stage, impresario Robert Stigwood, the head of RSO Records, signed the young woman to his label. She went on to enjoy a prolific pop career.

And yet while many would have sacrificed mother and father at the altar of stardom, not even promises of exposure or a career stateside could have tempted her out of a “normal” and grounded existence. She refused to get caught up in a show business circus.

“Celebrity always bothered me. I had a manager many years ago who was pushing me in that direction. I’ve made mistakes in my career and I’ve gone ‘I shouldn’t have done that’; but in the main I’m still the same person I always was.”

Barbara has recorded 29 albums throughout her career. Her latest, Winter, was released last year.

A precocious child, she began studying piano at the age of five and by 12 had taught herself to play the guitar. She discovered folk music while at school which led to floor spots singing at her local club.

“When I was 12, I gave up the piano and taught myself to play the guitar. I played with a lot of boys who lived round me. There were not a lot of girls playing the guitar. I started to play folk songs because I could accompany myself. I learned how to play and perform for people in folk clubs. Every village and town had a folk club then.

“But I was not interested in show business. I don’t see myself as a big show business success.

“I’ve been able to be a successful artist and I’ve always lived a completely normal life. I could never be on something life Strictly Come Dancing. There is a great superficiality in that celebrity environment.

“The most important thing is to be true to yourself. You can’t give up everything you value to be successful.”

Despite a long and glorious foray into pop, Barbara has returned to her folk roots. The genre is much more age-appropriate and suited to her temperament and standing (she received an OBE in 2002.) “I started off in folk music and the music I play now reflects my age. It would be most unseemly for a person in their 60s to do pop music.”

She has toured the nation again and again over the last 35 years and yet has somehow managed to miss Swindon, as far as she can recall anyway. She was keen to put this oversight to right and rethink her itinerary this time around.

“It’s been a long time, if ever, that I’ve played in Swindon. It will be nice to play there for the first time.”

Barbara Dickson will perform at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday, February 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £30.

To book call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.