Marie-Louise Incoll: Letting Creativity Come Naturally
Your journey is a fascinating one – you’re a psychology graduate and a creative artist – where did your interest in the arts begin?
The arts came first. I began writing poetry in 2014 as a way to get emotions out but over time I realised it was really a way of understanding myself. That curiosity naturally grew into wanting to understand others which led me to study psychology. Both come from the same place - a desire to understand people, their inner worlds and how we connect. Psychology gave me structure and language. The arts gave me freedom and intuition.
You’re working on painting, sound and poetry projects while you’re in The Stable – what are you hoping to create?
This residency is about connection - to self, to place and to the quieter things we carry. I’m creating a series of paintings using acrylics alongside small amounts of natural materials gathered locally including soil from Macclesfield. I’m also recording field sounds from around the area and weaving them into simple soundscapes. Poetry has been my anchor throughout - both existing poems and new writing that has emerged while being here.
The work has been inspired by a few key experiences. Adelaide Hills artist and friend Williams Johns was an early influence. Visiting his studio years ago sparked my interest in tactile, place-based practice and the idea of letting environment lead the work. More recently, while on exchange in Leeds, I took a music production class where I learned to create ambient tracks layered with spoken poetry. That experience stayed with me and encouraged me to explore nature and sound more deeply. What I hope to capture is a sense of presence - allowing the place to shape the work rather than forcing an outcome.
You’re embarking on your first ever painting project - what was the catalyst for trying something new at this stage in your career?
Curiosity, mostly. I tend to follow where that leads me. Painting felt like a natural extension of my existing practice - another way to explore emotion, texture and story without relying solely on words. This residency felt like the right space to experiment - to be a beginner again - and to see what might emerge.
How important is diversity of expression to you as an artist i.e. practising several crafts as opposed to focusing on one?
Very important. Different mediums unlock different ways of understanding for me. Sometimes words arrive first, sometimes sound and now texture. Allowing myself to move between forms keeps the work honest and responsive. It also reflects how I experience the world - not in one language but many.
What role do you see the arts playing in individual and community wellbeing?
The arts create space - to feel, to reflect and to be seen. They remind us that we’re not alone in our experiences. On a community level, they offer shared moments that don’t require explanation or agreement - just presence. Creative spaces often allow people to access parts of themselves that might otherwise remain unspoken.
What is your residency at The Stable allowing you to do that you can’t do anywhere else?
It’s given me uninterrupted time and space to listen - to myself and to the environment around me. Being immersed in one place, without pressure for immediate outcomes, has allowed the work to unfold naturally. That kind of spaciousness is rare and incredibly valuable.
You will be leading a poetry workshop on Saturday 31 January – what can people expect to learn?
The workshop is gentle and accessible. We’ll explore what poetry can be - beyond rules or technique - and how it can be used as a tool for reflection and connection. Participants will be invited to write quietly, using simple prompts, with no pressure to share unless they want to.
What do you learn from participants who take part in your workshops?
I’m always reminded of how much people carry and how creative expression can open unexpected doors. Each workshop teaches me something new about perspective, resilience and shared humanity. It’s a reciprocal process - I guide, but I also listen and learn.
The poetry workshop will be followed by an open studio – what will members of the community get to see?
Visitors will see works created during the residency including new paintings, poetry and soundscapes made from local field recordings. I’ve used soil gathered from around Macclesfield - including Crystal Lake Parklands and Davenport Square - within the paintings, and recorded everyday sounds from the area like wind, birds and walking over crunchy leaves. The open studio offers a glimpse into how the place itself has shaped what’s been created.
Which artwork – across all artforms – do you wish you created and why?
I’ve always been fascinated by the orrery - a mechanical model of the solar system. It represents the meeting of art, science, time and curiosity. To have been part of creating something that helps people understand their place in the universe - both practically and poetically - would have been extraordinary.