interview with an illustrator
Emma Rios
Born in a ballroom
and inspired by fairy
tales, Emma recently
served up Battered Vowels
and Cod Consonants at the V&A
u SB Emma, this has been an exciting year for you. What’s been
the best bit? Emma: Leaping from one exciting project to the
next, working with photographer Dan Price and creating a card
fish and chip shop installation at the V&A. u SB What first drew
you to illustration/design? Emma: I loved drawing as a child, I’d
get lost in the pictures in fairy tales books. u SB Do you have any
formal design training? Emma: I went to Middlesex University
to do a BA Hons in Illustration and after a while running my own
clothes label I felt there was something missing. I realised it was
drawing so went to Kingston to do an MA in Illustration. u SB
Where do you live and what drew you there? Emma: London born
and bred. My parents are Spanish and Irish, they met as they
both lived in an old hotel bed sit opposite the V&A museum, they
moved into the ballroom there and then had me. We ended up
in Chiswick. u SB What is your biggest inspiration? Emma: My
childhood story books, vintage costumes and fabrics. u SB How
do you get your ideas? Emma: Brainstorming, going to galleries,
reading books, talking to Sam Bompas and my friend Dan Price.
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