Emma Collins

I am a mixed media artist whose work explores escapism, imagination, and the intricate inner worlds we create to navigate reality. With a background in Graphic Design, my practice blends traditional painting with digital technology, allowing me to build richly detailed, layered compositions that invite viewers to pause and look closer.

My work is deeply influenced by storytelling, folklore, and decorative ornamentation, as well as my own lived experiences. I am particularly drawn to the idea of the “floating world” which is a space between reality and fantasy where beauty, distraction, and emotion coexist. Through my art, I explore this concept as both a place of refuge and of avoidance.

Recurring motifs such as ornamental patterns, symbolic objects, and dreamlike figures appear throughout my work. They are often anchored by central compositions that echo still life or narrative scenes. These elements come together to form immersive visual environments that balance playfulness with introspection.

At its core, my practice is about creating spaces to stop, look and get lost in. I create moments of beauty, curiosity, and reflection within increasingly fast-paced modern life.

Bachelor of Art & Design, Duncan of Jordanstone, College of Art & Design, University of Dundee

March 2026: Borders Art Fair, Kelso
August 2023: Pittenweem Arts Festival
March 2022: Borders Art Fair, Kelso
September 2021: Art Gemini Prize, South Kensington, London