About me
I’m a writer, artist and digital maker based in Manchester, UK. I’m fascinated by why and how we tell stories – from ancient myth to modern lore, and everything in between. What do these stories say about us, our identities, our fears? How might we use stories to conjure new worlds?
My work spans scriptwriting, immersive experiences, short fiction, games and XR, illustration, print, experimental poetry and more. After all, humans are story-making machines and the tools we use are vast – from oral traditions to modern literature, cave paintings to immersive art. As a storyteller, my practice is often socially-engaged – exploring cultural histories and mythologies, as well as directly collaborating with communities to co-create and collective dream.
I’ve exhibited work at HOME, Jesus College Oxford and Manchester Print Fair; screened films at DepicT!, London Short Film Festival and Manchester Animation Festival; and published short stories with Lune, MsLexia, GMCA and Glossop Winter Story Trail. I was an artist in residence with George Street Community Bookshop (twice) and a writer in residence for Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries. I’ve also written for digital projects (animation XR, VR and games) with BBC Arts, The National Gallery, The British Museum, The National Physical Laboratory and StoryFutures. I was accepted as a member of BAFTA Connect in recognition of my contribution to the UK screen industries, and am a current recipient of an Arts Council England Develop Your Creative Practice grant. I’m also one of Channel 4’s New Writers 2024/25 and a member of the board of trustees for Manchester City of Literature.
Photo by Ed Power
Select projects and exhibitions
2024
Scriptwriter | Channel 4 New Writers (Drama) 2024/25.
Artist | Immersive Assembly Vol. 4, York Mediale.
Writer | DYCP grant, Arts Council England.
Writer / Narrative Designer | Time Odyssey, Arcade, British Museum
2023
Writer | A Local Winter Story Trail, Glossop Creates
Writer in Residence | Mycomythopoeia, George Street Community Bookshop
Writer | Parsing Memory, Published in: Lune Journal
2022
Artist / Writer in Residence | Bookshops for All, George Street Community Bookshop, supported by Arts Council England.
Artist cohort | Intro to Virtual Tools, MIF / Factory International
Writers room | Writing for Immersive Binaural Audio, StoryFutures Academy
Exhibiting Artist | Manchester Print Fair, Manchester Cathedral
2021
Artist/Writer in Residence | Festival of Libraries, Manchester City of Literature
Lead Writer / Narrative Designer | The Keeper of Paintings, Arcade, StoryFutures and The National Gallery
2020
Writers Room | Immersive GameLab, StoryFutures and NFTS
Commissioned Writer/Artist | The Pengguling Egg, GM Covid Commissions
Exhibiting Artist | The Manchester Open, HOME, Manchester
Creative Associate | this place [of mine], FutureEverything
Creative Associate | CISCO e-waste makerspace, FutureEverything
2019
Exhibiting Artist | Manchester Print Fair, Manchester Cathedral
Writer (winning prototype) | Storytellers United Hackjam, BBC Digital Cities
Exhibiting Artist | Spooky Print Fair, MPF x Stockport Hat Museum
Exhibiting Artist | Etsy Made Local, The People’s History Museum, Manchester
Creative Associate | Future Sessions: Atmospheric Memory, FutureEverything
2018
Exhibiting Artist | Manchester Print Fair x Design Manchester Festival, The Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester
Exhibiting Artist | Let’s Paint the Town Red, Plant NOMA, Manchester
Exhibiting Artist | Manchester Print Fair, Manchester Cathedral
2017
Exhibiting Artist | Manchester Print Fair x Design Manchester, Campfield Market Hall, Manchester
2016
Producer / Artist | NQXmas street art installation, OutHouse Substation
Illustrator | 24 Days of Lever St window installation
Screen and selected
Scriptwriter | Irene (2016) and Blind Date/Matchmaker (2016)
Directed by Eleanor MarechalScreened at: DepicT!, London Short Film Festival, Underwire Festival, London Golden Scout IFF, Indie Hype
Nominated: Best Experimental Short, London Film Festival
Michelle Collier | Writer, Artist, Narrative Designer 