Meet Mural Artist Emma Taylor

How did you get into mural paintings and why? Where did you train?

After having spent many years in the media industry, I took the plunge 12 years ago and set up my own art business. I now work as a freelance artist, designer, community arts tutor and muralist. I’m actually self taught but illustration and painting has always been a big part of my life. My first mural was for a private client, creating a ‘castle and its surroundings’ for a child’s bedroom.

When we asked you to do this mural, how did you come up with the ideas?

Sitting down with the WMC team initially gave me a starter point of what sort of design you were looking for and what messages you wanted to portray. I then did some research into WMC, all the services you had to offer and the surrounding area/towns/points of intertest.

What do you think a mural brings to a building and the people who use it?

Murals can be very powerful additions to a space – they act as a focal point, can portray any message you want, help engage staff and members of the public, improve morale, can be used as a marketing tool and above all they can brighten up someone’s day! They can be completely bespoke and often it ends up as a collaboration between myself and my client/local community, enabling me to include people’s ideas, dreams and inspirations.

What are your hopes for this piece?

I hope it puts a smile of people’s faces. The entrance area to WMC is beautifully designed and a very adaptable space and I hope this mural helps to show it off in all its glory. I also hope it will engage the public when they visit the centre – children might enjoy finding the hidden ‘cat’ or 13 ‘treble clefs’.  There’s a long list of hidden treasures that relate to the WMC.

How do you create your murals – what technique and materials do you use, and how do you get the proportions right?

My murals are completely freehand! Prior to putting the actual mural illustrations on the wall I spend hours researching, planning, designing and sketching until I come up with a design that my client is happy with. Then the fun part begins – freehand drawing is the most liberating and fun process, although at times it does get the adrenaline going as it’s really important to get the design right the first time. I use Posca Pens which is basically acrylic paint within a pen, then I spray the finished illustration with a non toxic matt varnish to protect it. If I’m doing outside murals, I will protect the mural with a layer of hard wearing clear anti-graffiti varnish.

What’s been your favourite mural project so far?

Ooh that’s a tricky one as I’ve been involved with so many amazing ones. This mural has to be one of my favourite to date as the space I was working in is so inspiring and I got to work alongside such a lovely welcoming team. I also very much enjoyed completing 29 separate murals for Hotel Indigo up in Newcastle. This project gave me a chance to find out more about the city and its super friendly people. However with my other creative hat on (JET PICTURES – collaboration between myself and photographer/digital artist Jason Dooley-Brown) Jason and I really enjoyed working with No 1 Royal Crescent Museum in Bath creating the ‘Georgrobe’ mural for their dressing up space within the museum.

What other clients have you completed work for recently?

Swindon Marriott Hotel, Hotel Indigo in Newcastle, Award winning Cali Gym and Community Hub in Bath, the Modern Art Distillery, a Private AirBnB.  I’m currently working on a copper installation for Chubb Insurance.

To find out more about Emma and her work, click here.