Emily grew up on a farm on the North Devon coast with views across the Bristol Channel. The landscape she is familiar with is made up of rolling countryside, laced together by the tracery of Devon hedge banks. The undulations of Exmoor, Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor and, across the Bristol Channel, the Gower Peninsular and the Welsh Coast are altered by varying atmospheric conditions, sometimes seeming to disappear in a series of planes that fade into the distance. Her work is inspired by this scenery. She is aware of the fragility of the world we live in and endeavours to express this and the beauty she sees around her in the hope that what we have will be appreciated and protected.
Using delicate colour change, she paints watercolour landscapes, striving to create an impression of contours, planes, horizons and distance. Simplicity emphasises distance and colour suggests atmosphere the lines drawn are minimal and natural. They are usually titled with the date that inspired her, reflecting the variance in weathers, light and seasons. Their size (often smaller than A5) reflects what she sees in the distant, miniaturised landscapes near the horizon.
In contrast, her pen and ink drawings are sharply detailed, and are clearly recognisable and identifiable. She enjoys exploring the countryside in winter to find their subject matter, in particular, looking for bare, silhouetted trees, and often distracted by a flock of birds.
Follow her on instagram and facebook @emilygarnhamwright
