Check out this interview with Wraptious I did after winning their 2025 Winter Artists’ Competition:

Hi Emily! Where are you based?

I’m an illustrator and author living amongst the birds and trees of the Derbyshire countryside.

How long have you been creating art and what first pulled you to creating it?

My sister was very good at art and I loved watching her draw; also my art teacher Mr Babington, encouraged me at school to push my skills and made art fun. I completed an art foundation course at college followed by a Masters in Illustration at the University of Derby. Since then I have immersed myself in the world of illustration.

Which artists have shaped your work?

Quentin Blake has to be high on my never-ending list as I have grown up with his illustrations such as The BFG and The Witches. I find his work so flamboyant. His characters capture a quirky sense of humour that I enjoy. I also love Shaun Tan and Emily Gravett’s work due to their drawing techniques and imagination.

What materials or processes do you use?

I use a variety of mediums depending on what the project requires. I start with pencil on paper for initial sketches then I tend to gravitate towards using fine liner pens and watercolours / pastel pencils. I also use platforms such as Procreate and Photoshop (no AI involvement!) to create my illustrations.

What themes or ideas show up in your work?

Flora and fauna is one of my biggest influences. I love story-telling within each illustration, and practice trying to take a limitless imagination to push the boundaries of what people expect to see. I particularly enjoy creating fine details so whenever you look at an image you hopefully see something new each time.

What does a typical day in your studio look like?

I tend to exercise in the morning to get the brain juices flowing and to help me wake up ready for a day of creation. I check my emails and decide which projects need to be tackled first – whether that is character development for a book or a commission for a pet portrait. No two days are the same.

What would your dream job be?

My dream job would be illustrating children’s books all day long at my beach house whilst looking out onto golden sands and white horses – accompanied by my cat who is snoozing on my lap. I enjoy fulfilling a client’s commission as I feel I am helping them take an idea from concept to realisation.

Something people may not know about you?

I can’t draw or write a sentence in a straight line without guidelines due to me being left handed. Some lefties can, but not me – I can’t see where the sentence is going! Also when I sketch and write, my paper is positioned at a 45/90 degree angle as I can’t do it straight on.

Favourite Quote?

I have a few quotes that I like but one of them is “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas Edison. Turn what could be a negative train of thought into a positive way of thinking. 

Also Master Oogway from Kung Fu Panda “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”