Emma Bell

My work is infused with a sense of enchantment, reflecting a childhood spent surrounded by, and a lifelong passion for, the exciting worlds of theatre and music. My parents were musicians with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and memories of this glamorous, bohemian and sometimes chaotic life, with all it's dusty props and opulent costumes, are a rich and lasting source of inspiration.
After a degree in English and Drama I went into teaching. Throughout my early career in Education I enjoyed exploring the creative arts - experimenting with ceramics, textiles, painting, drawing and printmaking - and running Community Arts workshops in Bristol.
Moving with my family to Totnes in beautiful South Devon in 1996 and then taking an Access to the Visual Arts course in 1999 were catalysts. Since then I have increasingly concentrated on developing my studio practice, completing many private commissions, and exhibiting locally.
I love the unbounded possibilities of working in mixed media to create highly textured, multi-layered pieces, rich in surface pattern and sumptuous colour, reflecting the play of light. My work has been described as bold, exuberant, joyful and vibrant. Quotes from the 'Comments' book at one of my recent exhibitions include: "stunningly beautiful" - "romantic brilliance" - "intoxicating and magical" - "the stuff of dreams" - "breathtakingly lovely and inspiring".
I start with handmade paper and acrylic, and then add whatever gorgeous materials I can find and go for it! Anything from exquisite Japanese tissue to dried coconut fibres and crushed sea shells. The natural world, myth, dream and fairytale fuse to inspire my imagination. I see the various dragons, firebirds, peacocks, tigers and ballgowns as glittering illustrations that might have fallen from an ancient and beautiful book of fairytales.
My influences include artists such as Chagall, Klimt and Winifred Nicholson; Eastern European decorative arts; the Ballets Russes; costumes and stage sets; fabulously illustrated children's books; travel memories of such wonders as the Esala Perehera in Sri Lanka, a Shinto wedding in Tokyo, the tops of mountains from 30,000 feet; my daughter's amazing A'Level Photography work; the trees in my garden... like this list, ever growing and changing.
Music is also a huge and constant influence in my life. I took up the French Horn aged twelve, and over thirty years later still enjoy the challenges of this most mysterious, golden and difficult of instruments. I fulfill my love of classical music playing professionally with many orchestras and ensembles in the South West. I am also lucky enough to record regularly with the wonderful musician/singer-composer Chloe March, with whom I will be collaborating on a sound/art installation in 2009.