INTRODUCTION

Aileen Angsutorn Lees (she/they) is a Thai-British multidisciplinary creative working across Central Scotland. She explores disrupting narratives, reclaiming histories, and building alternative futures using visual art, poetry, film and sound.

Her poetry has been published by Speculative Books, Tangerine Press, Madrigal Press and elsewhere, and she has written over 40 articles for newspapers and magazines. Her photography has featured in various exhibitions across the UK and online, and her commissions include National Trust for Scotland. Her film safe space premiered at Extra Rice Film Festival 2025 in London.

Aileen is the founder of Decolonising The Outdoors, a creative and community project which dismantles narratives of dominating land and extracting nature, and imagines anti-imperial, anti-capitalist and queer futures.

INTERVIEW

How did you get into your creative practices? What initially inspired you?

I have loved photography, writing and cinematography since I was a kid. I would use a point-and-shoot to capture everyday moments on film (RIP DoublePrint) and I wrote news segments and skits which I filmed on the family camcorder. When I was in Year 7, I wrote a play for my class to perform at assembly in front of the whole school — which no one had asked for. But I think this flair was suppressed in favour of “academic” subjects and later, capitalism, so it has only been in recent years that I have been able to pursue this creativity again.

When I moved to Scotland in 2022 and left my corporate career behind, I was keen to find community. The support and encouragement from others was empowering, and that helped me in developing my creative voice. I am so thankful to Pass The Mic, Scottish BPOC Writers Network, We Are Here Scotland and Zya for holding spaces that nurture and nourish.

What themes do you tend to interrogate in your creative practices?

Through journalism I love sharing the stories of others and this approach feeds into my creative practices, where I am particularly interested in subverting the role of observer. Across my work I have explored movement, memory, belonging, resistance and futurisms through a decolonial and interspecies lens.

What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?

For ESEA Heritage Month 2024, Glasgow Zine Library commissioned me to create a zine as part of my Decolonising The Outdoors project. I had the creative freedom (and responsibility) for all aspects of the publication, which was both exciting and daunting, and it was rewarding to see it from concept until completion. I learned so much! Over four months I developed my skills in design, editing and printing, and I really enjoyed being able to bring together my different creative practices in one place.

I had set myself a rather large task to create new content to make up the majority of the zine. This comprised four features on food, farming, seed culture and queer ecologies, and included three interviews. This is what I loved most about the project — connecting with groups and initiatives who are working towards a decolonial future, and to showcase the amazing work that they do for their communities and environment.

What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into your creative practices?

Creative workshops and events are a great place to start as they are usually open to all levels, at low or no cost, and allow you to explore your style in a relaxed environment. It’s how I started to love creative writing (having previously hated poetry!) and through these networks I befriended other poets, who I now get to work with.

For all its faults, I have found social media really helpful with creative opportunities. Call-outs are often shared on Instagram, and We Are Here Scotland share mentorship and development schemes aimed at creatives of colour (although there are nowhere near enough of these across the industry). It can also be a great way to help others see and find your work.

What are you currently working on?

It’s all about events at the moment! I have been writing and rehearsing a spoken word piece with fellow poet and Scottish BPOC Writers Network member Zain Rishi, which we are performing at Hidden Door Festival 2025.

I am also preparing for several events that I’m facilitating as part of Decolonising The Outdoors. This includes a workshop with Edinburgh Arts Festival on Friday 22 August (for BPOC only) which explores the ways we can heal through food, community and the outdoors.

Would love to see you there?