The
exciting worlds of music and theatre infused my childhood with a sense
of the artistic and glamorous, as both my parents were musicians with
the Royal Shakespeare Company. Life seemed to be filled with a stream
of actors, musicians, concerts and gatherings, and visits backstage amidst
the dusty props and opulent costumes.
So music became and remains a constant and vital part of my life. I took
up the French Horn aged twelve, and thirty years later still enjoy the
delight and terror of playing professionally. I currently perform regularly
as a member of many orchestras and ensembles in the South West.
After a degree in English and Drama I went into teaching. Throughout this
time I was experimenting with ceramics, textiles, painting, drawing and
printmaking, and running workshops in community arts.
Completing an Access to the Visual Arts course in 1999 was a catalyst.
Since then I have increasingly concentrated on developing my studio practice,
exhibiting locally and completing many private commissions.
I love the unbounded possibilities of working in mixed media to create
highly textured, multilayered pieces, rich in surface pattern and colour,
reflecting the play of light. My work has been described as bold, exuberant,
joyful and vibrant. I see the various dragons, firebirds, peacocks, tigers
and ballgowns as glittering illustrations that could have fallen from
an ancient and beautiful book of fairytales. I start with handmade paper
and acrylic, and then add whatever gorgeous materials I can find and go
for it! Anything from exquisite Japanese tissue to dried coconut fibres
and crushed sea shells. The natural world, myth, dream and fairytale fuse
to inspire my imagination.
My influences include artists such as Chagall, Klimt and Winifred Nicholson;
Eastern European decorative arts; the Ballets Russes; costumes and stage
sets; fabulously illustrated children’s books... the list is ever
growing and changing.
My hope is always to try and create work that captures something of a
sense of enchantment and beauty - that magic feeling when the curtain
rises in a darkened theatre and momentarily another world is revealed.
Emma Bell, 2007
All images on this page are original artworks by Emma Bell © - to view more of Emma's artwork go to the Gallery Pages
