About

Painting and drawing have always been Emma’s way of communicating, an instinctive language through which she captures emotion, atmosphere, and untold stories. Since completing her Bachelor of Arts at The Glasgow School of Art, she has exhibited widely in both Scotland and New Zealand.

Her paintings have received awards and been finalists in major national art prizes, including the Craigs Aspiring Art Prize and the Cleveland National Art Awards. As a resident artist at Te Atamira, she spends most days immersed in her studio, developing new work and continually pushing the boundaries of her creative practice.

Working primarily in paint Emma seeks to evoke connection, balancing strength and vulnerability to create work that resonates on a deeply human level. While portraiture and figurative work remain central to her practice, she also draws inspiration from the textures, colours, and shifting moods of the Central Otago landscape.

When she’s not in the studio, she channels her creativity into illustration and design, working on select projects for her business, Studio Peers.

In her latest series Emma explores the concept of Floating, an exploration of movement and colour between sky and sea. This series reflects on the quiet strength that exists within stillness, inviting viewers into a world of suspended motion and atmospheric depth.