- About the artist -
Hello! My name is Emma West (also known as Emma the Llama!) and I am an illustrator from Seaford, East Sussex, currently based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex. Why a llama you ask? It's a nickname from school that sort of stuck! After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2019 with a degree in Illustration, I have been balancing freelance work with a job as a primary school teaching assistant and art teacher. Much of my work focuses on nature and local wildlife, creating illustrations that I hope will help inspire a deeper awareness and connection with the natural world. The main aim of my artwork is to spread a little happiness and positivity, one drawing at a time.
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I create my illustrations using a combination of traditional mediums such as colour pencil, oil pastel, acrylic and watercolour paint, with digital drawing software. Sometimes I govern which medium to use based on how I'm feeling that day! I enjoy the contrast between careful and considered drawings using pencil compared with the unpredictability and complete freedom of making a mess with acrylic paints and oil pastel - For me this keeps the working process fun and fresh, as well as allowing me to express myself!
One of my favourite things to draw are flowers! This is a recent work in progress for a personal project inspired by the seasons
There are a few things I am very proud of achieving since beginning my journey as an illustrator. Whilst in my final year of university I was the winner of the University's International Office 'Made in Portsmouth' competition. The brief was to create a gift for international visitors to the University that could introduce and celebrate Portsmouth and all it has to offer to them. I was then commissioned to produce 200 copies of my entry - a foldout typographic map of popular locations and things to see in Portsmouth. In the same year I was incredibly fortunate to be selected as one of three finalists in the 'Best Illustrator' category of the Mollie Makes Handmade Awards, an awards showcasing and celebrating artists and makers by the late Mollie Makes magazine. I was invited to present my work and talk about my inspirations and creative process to a panel of judges in Bristol. It was an incredibly inspiring and enlightening experience, and I still feel immense gratitude for that opportunity, it provided me with a lot of motivation and a huge boost in confidence. I'm also very proud to be a volunteer for a local arts charity called 'SCIP' (Sussex Contemporary Illustrators & Printmakers'. SCIP provides free art workshops for the local community, exhibitions and a young group, their main aim to break down the barriers that prevent people from accessing the arts and provide them with the opportunity to explore and express their creativity. I have volunteered for this wonderful charity for the last 4 years.
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In my happy place, surrounded by tulips at a recent tulip festival!
​Sitting at my stall at a recent artist's market at One Garden Brighton
Over the years I have worked on a range of different freelance projects and undertaken personal commissions for clients. Examples include illustrating a book for a local author that celebrates the relationship of grandfather and granddaughter between her father and young niece, creating paintings of buildings of personal significance to clients such as wedding venues and childhood homes, creating logos for local businesses and spot illustrations for magazines. I have also created a range of greetings cards, framable prints, stickers and pin badges featuring my artwork, which I sell at craft fairs and art markets in Brighton and other local venues. It brings me a lot of joy to sell my work at craft fairs, it's very fulfilling and motivating to see your work 'out in the wild', and to also meet other artists and makers - I've met some incredibly talented and lovely people through these events that I'm lucky to call my friends.
Working at one of SCIP's workshops
Poppy loves cuddles and spending time in the sunshine!
When I'm not working I enjoy spending time outdoors either gardening or exploring the local landscape, whether that's beside the sea, up on the South Downs, in woodland or visiting National Trust gardens. I always go readily prepared with my camera and binoculars (and most importantly, lots of snacks!) for birdwatching and documenting interesting and beautiful plants, flowers and fungi! I use the photographs I've taken of wildlife and plants as references and inspiration for my artwork, further deepening the connection between my own personal interests and illustrations. I absolutely love gardening, it brings me so much happiness and an opportunity to relax when I can work on the borders of the garden, sowing seeds and feeding the local birds. I also enjoy crochet, reading, running, baking, playing my clarinet, drinking copious amounts of green tea and coffee, going to concerts and spending time with my partner Max, my friends, family and my little black cat, Poppy.