Our chat with Emmy, a local, independent artist!
We recently caught up with local artist, Emmy Oranges to discuss inspiration for her work, how she finds running an independent business and of course, Southport!
Can you tell us a bit about your journey as an artist and what inspired you to start creating art?
I've always loved drawing since before I can remember, and my Nan has a large collection of drawings from before I could even write, so I guess it's been going a long time! I used to get in trouble drawing horses on EVERYTHING in school, so it has always felt natural to follow this path! I went on to study Art and Graphics in KGV college, before specialising in illustration during a foundation year at Southport College, and I later went on to study illustration with animation at Man Met university. I fell into a career in Nursing in my twenties as I needed some financial stability, but the pull towards illustration was strong, so I used my life savings to set up my illustration business in 2023 and started taking myself and my work seriously from then.
What themes or ideas do you explore in your artwork, and how do they reflect your personal style?
I love to capture moments in time, as well as a feeling of nostalgia. I do this by creating multi textured illustrations, combining both traditional and digital media, that makes you stop and think. I am drawn to references where the light evokes a particular feeling, usually of warmth or familiarity. Buildings and animals are a favourite of mine, and I'd love to work on more portraits in 2025! I often collect natural treasures on my dog walks and come home with funny looking twigs, leaves and stones to draw from real life references! I find a great deal of beauty in the small and mundane things people often walk straight past. Nature is very important to me and my work!
My art style is always evolving and I love to try out new techniques and materials! It's amazing what you can achieve using digital tools, but for me there's nothing quite like holding a paintbrush in your hand and creating something magical.
Community and wellbeing are big influences in my work, and I love working with local groups through workshops to help them achieve something they never thought possible!
How has being based in Southport influenced your work? Do local landmarks or culture play a role in your pieces?
I was born and raised in Southport so it's a place that has heavily influenced both my life and work! I've lived and worked in many different places from the age of 17 - 30 so I like to think I bring a little bit of everywhere else with me, too! I love to draw the stunning buildings and nature we have on our doorstep here, as well as the dogs I meet on walks, flowers in my garden, and I love working with our local community and bringing people together. After COVID small towns like ours have really suffered, not just financially but in terms of their identity and place in the world - with more shops shutting down and the high street becoming less and less utilised, it's more important than ever that we think of creative ways to bring communities together and use the amazing spaces we are so lucky to live next door to. I have big plans for bringing people together in 2025, so watch this space!
What motivated you to move into The Engine Room recently and how is the space supporting your artistic practice?
Firstly the building is just such a beautiful landmark that it's the perfect place for a creative to base themselves! There is a feeling of openness, of the outside being inside, the glass and the architecture just fascinate me, and it's a place my grandparents and great grandparents remember fondly - which makes me feel connected to the place.
The move itself was spurred on when, earlier this year, I set up my own CIC - a community interest company. I wanted to combine my Nursing skills and my passion for community with my artistic abilities and host free and low-cost art workshops to vulnerable people. I know how much art can improve wellbeing, and I hate the thought of some communities feeling priced out of this benefit. Art is for everyone, and the benefits are wide reaching, I was lucky enough to receive funding for my project from the National Lottery, so in 2025 my CIC will be running from The Engine Rooms. My aim is to remove barriers to the arts, reduce inequality and bring people together. When I met with Anna from the Engine Rooms, she was so on board with my vision and seemed just as excited as I was - it felt like the perfect place to start my work! Everyone has been so lovely since I've moved in - my only regret is not doing it sooner! Their prices are very reasonable, and you can't underestimate the benefits of collaboration as a creative - just having other people to bounce ideas off, it's been priceless to me.
What does your creative process involve, from initial inspiration to the finished piece?
I usually see something and want to draw it immediately - it's just a feeling that comes over me that I can't shake. Thankfully these days we have smart phones so I will capture a photo of something, usually the way the light hits an object, a colour against a blue sky, a building with some amazing typography - then I will take it home and sketch from the reference. If it's small enough to fit in my pocket like a leaf, a matchbox, or simply a found scrap of paper, it will come home with me! I love to sketch in one of my many sketchbooks but sometimes I will do this on my ipad, depending on the sort of thing I'm trying to achieve, I may draw in my sketchbook, scan it in, and edit it digitally! Sometimes I will paint a texture in my sketchbook and use the scans to "build" an illustration like a collage. This is frequently becoming my favourite way to illustrate, as it combines traditional paint textures with the "clean lines" of digital working.
If I'm working on an illustration for a client, I will usually be sent ideas and reference photos - I will send them a few sketches and palettes to see which they prefer in terms of composition and colour, and then I will get to work! I usually listen to my favourite podcasts or music depending how much I need to concentrate. Once I'm in a flow state I can listen to anything. I feel like I do my best work on a Friday evening, everything feels exciting and I'm usually listening to the Craig Charles funk and soul show. It gets the creative juices flowing! haha
Do you have a favourite piece or collection you’ve created, and what makes it special to you?
Actually one of my favourite pieces I've created recently has been a pet portrait for a client in America! I just gelled with this particular client immediately, they found my artwork organically, connected with my style entirely, and I loved the ideas they brought to the table. We worked so well as a team; it really was a dream project. I actually asked if they would be happy for me to have a copy for my wall at home (despite never having met this client or their dog!) and was thrilled when they said yes! A personal favourite illustration of mine was my cowboy boots on a vintage BMW -as BMW themselves found and contacted me about this piece and ended up using it in an advertising campaign which was really a defining moment for me and came at a great time - as I was actually considering throwing the towel in on the whole illustration as a career, thing! This recognition gave me a real boost, and the illustration will always hold a special place in my heart, as a reminder we never really know what's around the corner.
How do you balance running and online business whilst maintaining the passion you have for art?
This is a really tricky balance and I'm lucky I have a very understanding partner and confidante! Unfortunately, I just spend a lot of time online! It has paid off as I have built up a lovely community there now, but in my personal life, screen time is something I've always tried to keep a handle on - so I'm not entirely comfortable being so chronically online! One of the reasons I love having a studio is that it will help me to balance life and work, a place I can close the door on for the night at teatime and won't sit up till all hours working when I should be resting. This is something I want to prioritise in 2025. I'd say it's also important to have a varied creative practice. I have a lot of creative hobbies like drawing, painting, gardening, fashion, reading, sewing, knitting, and cooking. If I'm feeling burnt out with my illustration work, I will often hunt for a new recipe, or a sewing project I can work on to take my mind off it for a while, and usually- more inspiration comes to me that way. The business side of things is difficult as boundaries are blurred - I find it so important to keep a sketchbook practice just for me for this reason.
What challenges have you faced as a local independent artist, and how have you overcome them?
The challenges I've faced are not necessarily unique to my location, however all artists and illustrators these days are expected to do EVERYTHING. Social media, art, accounts, website updating, markets, research, printing, packaging, posting, planning, it's really tough out there as the market is so saturated now that there is a lot of competition! Coming from a working-class background I have faced financial challenges and often wondered how far I'd be in my career right now if i didn't have a big 15-year hiatus where I went into Nursing. I don't regret my nursing career, I achieved some amazing things, met some of my best friends, and I am so proud of myself - but I would likely be a lot further along than I currently am. That being said, I'm looking forward to an exciting year ahead with lots of new projects in the pipeline! In business terms, this Christmas has been miles better than last Christmas and I'm learning so much along the way about all aspects of running a small business!
Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or exhibitions we should look out for?
Yes! As mentioned above, I will be launching my free and low-cost workshops in 2025 so keep an eye on my website and socials for more information regarding this! January will see myself and my good friend Liam Jackson (Graphic Designer) working with the amazing Victoria Park to advertise their various events, and I have secured a regular gig as resident illustrator for Bloom, a female ran collective hosting creative events and pop-ups in Liverpool. I am hoping to get my claws into some mural work in 2025 and continue my own creative practice - the good thing about this job is you never really know what's around the corner, so I'm excited to see what's next! I would love to get into book cover design as I am an avid reader, but I'd also love to make my own zines and participate in some more drawing challenges. I've loved collaborating with local businesses this year and would welcome any enquiries big or small!
What advice would you give to aspiring artists looking to establish themselves in Southport?
My advice would be to find your community. Don't underestimate the importance of a human connection, put yourself out there and be prepared to work hard - the work won't necessarily find you! Also, trust the process and be patient. There is a lot of research involved with being an illustrator and no one-size-fits-all. Find out what makes you unique and work on that, it's much better to be a genuine version of yourself than a rubbish replica of someone else.
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