About

Em Whiteford is an artist and maker based in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland whose work is deeply inspired by wild coastlines, uplands and the tempestuous skies of the North.

My practice is led by the constant changing landscapes of wild places, capturing the organic hues, textures and movement which I observe from our remote cabin. I mainly work with oil paint, and love it for its versatility, working with it almost like how a sculptor would use clay- I enjoy the way it can be shaped, moulded, scraped back and smoothed.

I also work with watercolour, and enjoy the way that it requires an ability to work with the blank page beneath, as well as the aspect of being able to take it anywhere, and use the water of the places I'm surrounded by to mix and blend my work on the page.

After studying illustration and having worked in wildlife conservation previously, to me, looking out at a natural landscape is like looking out at a layered story. It takes practise, learned knowledge and a willingness and patience to look and listen in order to read a landscape.  

Knowing the names of the trees, the hills, the bird song and the plants, matters. It’s like being fluent in another language, and if we lose the names and experiences, we slowly lose the connection. I don’t just paint places, I aim to capture more. The names, the memories, emotions, stories, and history that are connected to a place all contribute to informing the final piece. Art and nature have never been more important in our lives than now, and I believe that they can significantly strengthen one another.

They both require patience and knowledge, and deepen our connection to ourselves as well as the world around us, and that is what leads me in my creative practice. In this light, I hope for viewers to engage with the emotions that this sort of nature conjures up. I hope it evokes a sense of connection within people which ignites a need to protect these landscapes which are so vital.