Artist Biography
Through her paintings, Cheltenham-based artist Emma Howell explores and exposes the depths of her psyche. She carefully and creatively nurtures the relationships she has with herself and the world; a world that she had deemed tiresome and melancholic after her father passed away. Along with recent life events and her encounter with grief in 2016, Emma is consistently compelled to build a deeper appreciation and more colourful rapport with her everyday. Now, as she navigates all corners of life, Emma is taking you somewhere she’s been and showing you how she sees it, feels it and hears it. All of her work is dedicated to her Dad, whose loss taught her how to embrace the adventure that life can offer.
Emma lives in the heart of The Cotswolds with her husband Jon and their Golden Retriever, Gibson. She graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a First Class Honours degree in Fine Art – and has since sold and exhibited work nationally and internationally across Europe, North America, Australia and The Seychelles.
In February 2022, Emma launched her first set of NFTs on OpenSea. View here.
To receive updates on Emma’s work, subscribe to her mailing list.
Artist Statement
Painting is to provide evidence of living, and a means to unfold new perspectives.
A deep navy hue could be a woeful moment or the colour of a gentleman’s jacket; a wash of pale grey could be a loving conversation or a typical British cloud; an earthy green could be a Cotswold hill or the colour of a weathered road sign; a quick, rough mark could be a moment of frustration or a tyre blow-out on interstate 81..
Through adventure and exploration of the near and afar, my work evolves from journal documentation of colour, texture, sound and conversation. By exerting the mind and body, mixed media is then applied to a surface to expose these perceptions and take you where I’ve been.
Open your mind and take my hand.
View available work and become a collector.
CV
Education
2015
BA Fine Art – First Class Honours
University of Gloucestershire
Exhibitions
2024
Soul – Solo Show at Sixteen Gallery, Cheltenham, UK
2023
Wonder – Selected Group Exhibition at The Sanctuary Gallery, Newnham, UK
2022
New Terrain – Solo Show at Sixteen Gallery, Cheltenham, UK
The Landscape – Selected Group Exhibition at Sixteen Gallery, Cheltenham, UK
2019
Fragile Nature – Selected Group Exhibition at Groundwork Gallery, Kings Lynn, UK
2018
Homegrown – Cheltenham, UK / Sponsored by Hobbycraft
2015
ArtVenture Recent Graduates Exhibition, Cirencester, UK
Free Range Art & Design Show, London, UK
University of Gloucestershire Degree Show, Cheltenham, UK
Continuum Show, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
2014
Hans Brinker Budget Trophy, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Awards
2019
Cotswold Painter of the Year 2019 – Nominee
Cotswold Artist of the Year 2019 – Nominee
2014
University of Gloucestershire: Travel Award to Washington, D.C.
University of Gloucestershire: International Exhibition Opportunity in Amsterdam
2013
University of Gloucestershire: PJ Crook Award
Artwork Collections
Soul, 2024
50 Paintings, 2023
Sevilla, 2023
Snapshots, 2023
seeds, 2023
the lemons series, 2023
TERRAIN, 2022
Fin, 2021
Classified, 2021
Raw Honey Part II, 2021
Café Fiasco, 2021
hike up harp hill, 2021
The 25 Mountain Project, 2021
Private Reserve, 2021-
four year wild fire, 2020
50 Paintings In 50 Days, 2020
81 Wild, 2020
It’ll Be Alright, 2020
Mountain, 2020
Raw Honey, 2019
The Moon Series, 2019
Some Adventures, 2019
The 1320 Miles Series, 2019
The How Series, 2018
Homegrown, 2018
Press, Publications & Features
2024
Architectural Digest – Story – “Tour a Mayfair Pied-à-Terre With a Subtly Fabulous Kitchen“
We Heart – Art & Culture – “Cheltenham-based artist Emma Howell is set to bare her Soul at an emotional new exhibition celebrating the liberating potential of art..“
2023
‘Wonder’ – an exhibition full of uplifting colour, pattern and mark making by four talented women painters.
2022
BBC – Interview – “My Place: Emma Howell on Cleeve Common“
Sculpd – “A Day at the Gallery with Artist Emma Howell“
The Lucky Onion – Cotswolds Spy – September 2022
We Heart – Art & Culture – “Emma Howell’s New Terrain sees the young artist’s evolving style reflect her vision of the self..“
Anna Eleri Hart – Interiors Blog – “how to find affordable art for your home”
Great British Life – Whats On In The Cotswolds, September 2022
Munson Guitars – Blog – “Artist Edition, but not what you think“
Widewalls – ‘New Terrain – Solo Show by Emma Howell‘
Staytripper – ‘New Terrain, A Solo Show by Emma Howell‘
Visit Cheltenham – ‘New Terrain – A Solo Show by Emma Howell‘
2021
The Kingfisher Trail – Complete Panel of Artists – Emma Howell
Cotswold Lion Magazine – The Kingfisher Trail Feature – July-December 2021 Issue 45, page 4
Gloucestershire Live – “Stunning kingfisher sculptures flock to Cheltenham auction event”
Great British Life – Cotswold Life – “Make your bid to own one of the Cotswold Kingfisher Trail statues”
2020
Penny Red Media – Part 6 Small Business Interview Series – Emma Howell, Cheltenham
STA Travel – Guest Blog – “An Artist’s Attempt to Creatively and Visually Travel During Lockdown” (publication on hold – COVID)
Cotswold Life Magazine – Artist Feature – June 2020 Issue, page 25
Town & Country Magazine UK – Culture Feature – “Meet the artist taking inspiration from sublime landscapes“
2019
Lynn News – “Groundwork artists give message of hope at King’s Lynn exhibition“
Groundwork Gallery – “Fragile Nature: Elspeth Owen, Paca Sanchez, Lotte Scott snd Emma Howell“
Hobbycraft – Instagram Takeover on Friday 16th August 2019
2018
Hobbycraft – “How to Create a Large Scale Abstract Artwork“
Candid Magazine – “Emerging Artists: Emma Howell“
Hobbycraft – “Homegrown: An Exhibition of Painted Adventures by Emma Howell“
The Local Answer – Artist Feature and Homegrown Promo
We Heart – Arts & Culture – Emma Howell Interview
University of Gloucestershire Alumni – Homegrown by Emma Howell Press Release
BBC Radio Gloucestershire – Artist Feature and Homegrown Promo
Hobbycraft – “How to Experiment with Watercolours”
Cotswold Allure Magazine – “5 Best Instagram Accounts To Discover The Cotswolds”
Hobbycraft – Instagram Takeover on Saturday 13th January 2018
Hobbycraft – “Meet the Makers: Catch Up Edition”
2017
Hobbycraft – “Meet The Artist: Emma Howell”
Collaborations & Partnerships
2022
Sculpd – Featured Artist – Abstract Canvas Painting Kit
Munson Guitars – Gaia: Against The Grain, Hand-painted Guitar
2021
Cotswolds National Landscape – The Kingfisher Trail
2020
The Urban Meadow, Cheltenham – Permanent exhibit
Pea Green Physio, Cheltenham – Permanent exhibit
2019
Hobbycraft “Art Sale” backdrop – Nationwide in-store marketing