Compensare, Latin for “to counterbalance, to make up for, to weigh against each other,” is the root of the English word compensate.
This exhibition is the outcome of a research period undertaken by Marley Starskey Butler between January and October 2025 within the context of Beacon Family Services, an organisation providing therapeutic and relational play services for parents, carers, and families in Birmingham and across the UK.
Conversations with staff, an embeddedness in the inner workings of the organisation, and observations of their use of Theraplay® and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) techniques — approaches that support children and parents or caregivers, particularly in adoptive or fostering families, to make sense of their family’s world and strengthen their relationships — gave root to the work.
Root: com- (together) +
pensare (to weigh)
As an Incidental Artist Marley has developed the project with an open brief, beginning with listening, following threads that emerged, and weaving what was found into the works in this exhibition.
Speaking to the emotional, psychosocial, and political landscapes that hold balances and counterbalances for Beacon, the work uses elements of the language embedded in their therapeutic techniques, translating them through processes of observation, movement and choreography and generating new understandings and insights through iterative processes, layered prompts, musical composition and play.
The swallows know there is hope,
There is always hope.
Incidental Artist #06
Context: Beacon Family Services, Sutton Coldfield
Beginnings: What does this kind of service mean for children and families? How can an artist navigate this environment and be helpful whilst creating impactful artworks that facilitate further contemplation and positive action? What can an artist propose within this context and these boundaries? Approaches will include situating myself within the organisational space both directly and indirectly through reflective conversations – beginning how all things should begin, by listening.
About Marley
Marley Starskey Butler is an interdisciplinary artist and social worker. They explore themes of opposites, parallels, memory, love, loss, reflection, process, and play. Marley’s practice in social work has spanned child protection, fostering, adoption, and mental health, contributing to the promotion of well-being, social justice, and human rights. The intersections of art, social work, and Marley’s familial lived experiences in social work create the foundation and tools for them to process and understand the world, both within and around them.
Marley is working with Eastside Projects as an Incidental Artist. Their project has been supported by the 2025 Wheatley Fellowship from Birmingham School of Art, Birmingham City University.
Marley Starskey Butler is an interdisciplinary artist and social worker, they live and work in Birmingham. Recent exhibitions and projects include Thirty-Six, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham (2024); Hospital Rooms – Sandwell CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) (2023/4); Dwelling, Eagle Works Studios, Wolverhampton (2024); Reclaiming Narratives: Voices from the College of Medicine and Health, Barber Institute of Fine Arts (2024/25); Reflector, The New Art Gallery Walsall (2024/25), Blast Creative Network, The Wolverhampton School of Art, Wolverhampton (2023); Picturing High Streets, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby (2023); Freedom, National Justice Museum, Nottingham (2023); Portrait of Britain, British Journal of Photography, Nationwide – JCDecaux Screen (2022); East Meets West, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Derby (2021).
About Beacon Family Services
Beacon Family Services believe every child deserves the chance to thrive, and know that begins with strong, nurturing relationships at home and school. Founded in 2018, and based in Sutton Coldfield. they support families in the West Midlands by addressing the pressing need for early mental health support with relational, authentic, and inclusive services that make a real difference.
With the Children’s Commissioner finding only 32% of children receiving the help they need and one in four children expected to face mental health challenges by 2028, the stakes are higher than ever.
Beacon’s focus is on empowering parents, including adoptive parents and special guardians, to build strong healthy connections with their children. They offer fresh and impactful services designed to meet each family’s unique needs. Their evidence-based, flexible approaches provide parents, carers and professionals with the tools to foster emotional well-being and resilience in children. Their support is flexible, practical, inclusive and enriched by play therapies that strengthen relationships and address behavioural challenges in a meaningful way. Find out more at www.beaconservices.org.uk
