form and function - inspired by Highland landscapes
In this exhibition, Emma’s design approach towards her distinctive and individual kiln formed glass considers both function and aesthetic. She draws her inspiration from her natural surroundings, textures, shapes and colours found in the big skies, deep waters, mountains, forests, fauna and the flora drawn from the wild landscape and her very own garden. These elements are central to her practice. For Emma, it's about the way an artist can bring together colour, form, function, movement, texture and design to create unique works of art.
Emma uses a variety of processes in her designs, always starting with sheet glass to create a blank and then often applies frits (glass powders and fine-coarse), vitragraph, stringers, stencils, layering and mixing her own colours to produce imaginative and innovative designs. She often combines several different processes in the one piece. The firing is as important as the design and Emma adapts the heat work in line with how the piece speaks to her - sometimes creating a full fired piece, at others a piece full of texture. To add form and function she uses moulds and some pieces are dropped to form vessels. Finishing each piece is an art in itself.
This exhibition draws together new work and a selection of pieces from her personal archive.