Emma's hand holding a scalpel in the process of papercutting. The papercut reads "Smash the Patriarchy" and is cut from white paper on a bright blue cutting mat background.

Hello, I’m Emma. I grew up in Manchester, where I developed a love of buildings, canals, railways, and those spaces in-between where wild things grow. After living in Derby and then Birmingham, I now live in a small town on the North East coast, where I swim in the sea and am close to wild and beautiful spaces. I take my inspiration from stories, myths, nature, books, old sci-fi, dinosaurs, maps, time-travel dreams, tea, libraries, music, and three a.m. conversations.

Sometimes I’ll sketch a design and cut it out with my tiny scalpel. Other times, I’ll draw on paper or my iPad and create work that way. Often, it’s a mix of the two, with some calligraphy and collage thrown in for good measure. These either become prints, or I work with independent/local businesses to have my designs printed or manufactured as items such as pins, mugs, and keyrings. I love seeing my drawings become physical objects that can be worn and used, but I try to use eco-friendly or recycled materials because the world doesn’t need any more plastic “stuff” in it.

If you’d like to get a glimpse of more of my day-to-day, come and find me on instagram or facebook or just say “hello” at heyemmablue@gmail.com