Emily Lawton

Hi! I’m Emily, a self-taught abstract artist with a love for exploring different styles and mediums, including acrylics, watercolours and inks. My body of work contains a wide range of styles, as I like to experiment with new designs and mediums to develop my skills. I like to motivate myself with challenges such as the 16 Project and 2020 Project where I created a different piece of artwork every day for a year. Much of my work involves bright colours, as they bring me so much joy to create with.

I like to leave the narrative of my work to the observer. For this same reason, I don’t name any of my pieces. I hope that when a person looks at my art, they have a unique experience that isn’t influenced by my own view of the piece.

Though my love of art began when I was a young child, I started creating prolifically at age 15, after being diagnosed with ME. My condition had deteriorated to the point where I had to drop out of school, was unable to walk unaided and spent the majority of time restricted to my bedroom.

Art quickly became the way that I coped with my illness. Creating artwork was an accessible activity that helped to distract me from my symptoms. It gave me purpose, something to work towards and focus my mind on. I found it so therapeutic and gained relief from the escapism.

After being debilitated by symptoms for 3 years, I was fortunate enough for my health to improve, to the point where I was able to pursue my dream of becoming an artist. Although it didn’t last forever, I’m incredibly grateful to have spent those years creating without boundaries. I’m not able to paint with my current level of ME, but I like to keep my creativity alive with fibre arts and paper crafts.