Biography
Emma Lamb (b.1988) is a contemporary artist based in South Devon, UK. Graduating at The Winchester School of Art in 2009 she then completed a PGCE in Arts Education at Bath Spa University in 2013.
Emma worked as an Art Teacher and Arts Educator for many years in a variety of settings whilst establishing her practice, exhibiting at The Wine Street Gallery, Wiltshire, Brick Lane, London, The Museum of Bath at Work and at The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath’s, Summer Show. Emma’s work was also featured on the BBC’s coverage of The RHS Chelsea flower show in garden ‘A City Haven’, which won a gold and best in show.
In 2019 Emma re-located to South Devon to focus on her art practice full time being drawn into the county’s rugged and diverse landscapes which inspire her art. She is currently represented by The Brownston Gallery in Modbury, Devon and works full time in her studio whilst teaching art projects and workshops alongside her practice.
Artist Statement
I am fascinated by the primal instinct we have to be close to nature; the joy and peace we feel in its presence, both physically and mentally.
I see my work as an emotional response to this instinct; an intimate landscape that mimics and amplifies nature, transporting the viewer to a place of wonder and beauty evoking emotion and intrigue.
3D mixed media pieces are built on different levels, where the tactile quality of raw pigments, delicate handmade paper and foraged plants remind us of the fragile state of our planet and the delicate balance of life itself. Paper castings breathe life into the ghostly, fossil like imprints of plants and creatures on the surface, revealing an imprint and trace of place, where the past and present interplay, allowing us room to contemplate the future state of our planet and the ever increasing threat from climate change.
The work's finer details, forms and textures reflect what we see when we look at our surroundings from different viewpoints. I am intrigued by the tiny details we see when we give ourselves the time and space from our busy lives to watch and observe the natural world. Slowing down helps us to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between life forms and to also notice the impact of man on our precious planet. It is an eye opening experience observing nature up close with its intricate tapestry of colours, textures and forms that we see when peering into a glassy rock pool or looking at a forest floor, but also spotting microplatics along the shore line and noticing the abundance or absence of difference species of plants and creatures. These environments are beautiful but fleeting, evolving and under increasing threat from human activity.
The creative process starts with me immersing myself in the wilderness; cold water swimming, wild camping and foraging, whilst admiring the power and beauty of the outdoors. This is my 'happy place’. On my travels I gather nuggets of inspiration for my work in the form of photographs, plants and microplastics as well as earth and rocks to be made into pigments.
In recent years I have been reflecting on my own impact on our planet as an artist; looking at the harmful toxins and plastics so many art materials contain. I am on a journey to find alternative materials, that are not only more eco friendly but also layer my work with meaning and history, embedding unusual materials such as, raw pigments, to make paints, invasive plant species/ recycled fibres to make paper and working with ink made from carbon emissions.
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My work comes to life in my studio, where I embrace the process of sketching, ripping, printing and manipulating surfaces. Exploration and play are at the heart of my approach. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of the mediums I work with, experimenting with a wide variety of unusual techniques and processes. The physical act of making paints, collage papers and my own paper excite me, giving my work authenticity and history. My whole process is a dance between control and unpredictability, intuition and analysis; mirroring our relationship with nature and what it is to be human.
