Summer Art: Meet Artist Emma Crockatt

We loved getting to collaborate with UK-based artist Emma Crockatt this season on our series of terry T's and onesies for summer! Inspired by British folk art and mid-century design, Emma specializes in nostalgic illustrations, combining primary colors and nature. We're such big fans, and you can expect to see even more of Emma's work making its way into future M&P designs...and knits!! In 2019.

Learn a bit more about Emma below, and click here to download a fun memory game we worked on together - just print, cut, and you're ready to play :). 

Where are you from, where did you go to school, and what did you study?

I’m from a small city called York in the North of England. It’s quite a strange city full of cobbled streets and medieval buildings. It has a river running through it and on some days you can smell chocolate in the air wofting in from a nearby factory. It was a nice place to grow up although I was very excited to move to London in my twenties - there I studied History of Art at Goldsmiths College and Illustration at Camberwell College of Art. I have just moved back to York with my partner to be closer to family whilst we raise our son. 

I really love your style —the strong shapes and cut-paper style. Who and what have been influences in developing this style? 

Thank you! I take influence from a variety of places: Folk art, children’s books (particularly 60’s /70’s craft books) Modern British painting, ceramics, film, music... it depends really! Generally I am drawn to bold shapes and contrasting colours - I enjoy the craft element of cutting and painting shapes. I find that this way of working enables me to make the pictures I want to make without over complicating them. 

And related, what inspires you in the day to day?

I always work best at home in my own little world surrounded by books, pictures, objects and records. Me and my partner enjoy walking our dog together, going on daytrips and collecting souvenirs.  In the last year we have also enjoyed watching our baby boy Robin grow! 

Congrats on recently becoming a mom!! How has this changed your work or practice if at all?

It’s been an exciting year getting to grips with motherhood! Before becoming a Mum I was used to having a lot of time to myself to think about and make art. Now my time is quite often interrupted and I have got used to stopping and starting. However I do work quite quickly and so if I am fairly organised I can still make things, usually in the evenings whilst Robin sleeps! Even though my time might be limited these days Robin brings so much joy, laughter and fun to my life and that motivates me to make more work.

Favorite artists/designers?

I am very inspired by painters such as Mamma Andersson, Alfred Wallis, Eric Ravilious and Mary Fedden and book illustrators such as Dick Bruna, Tove Jansson and Paul Rand. I have been making pottery for a couple of years now and have been very inspired by Marimekko’s fabric designs and Peggy Angus’s ceramic tiles. 

How do you balance working on personal work and working with clients? 

Having a strong personal visual language is very important to me and I have always enjoyed making work for the sake of making things. That said, I enjoy collaborating with others and finding new avenues for my work. I think so far I have been lucky enough to work with clients who have appreciated my personal work and found ways to make it work for them.