Artist Emma draws inspiration from wolves and fairytales

PRINTMAKER Emma Molony is staging her first solo exhibition.

The talented artist from Beer, who now lives in Exeter, has opened the exhibition at the Brook Gallery, Budleigh Salterton, and it runs until Sunday, March 4, as part of a series of exhibitions showcasing Women in Art.

Emma, who is in her 30s, started printmaking in 2002 while living in Venice. She is showing a number of works that reveal themes that have fired her imagination over the past few years.

Several prints and etchings illustrate scenes from some well-loved literary sources, including J M Barrie’s classic fantasy Peter Pan, and the stories of H H Munro (‘Saki’).

Local landscapes such as the pine cliff at the mouth of the River Otter, and Boats on Beer Beach, also feature among the framed works.

One wall of the gallery is papered with one of Emma’s wall paper designs capturing scenes from Peter Pan.

Emma also designs and assembles transparent baubles of differing sizes, each containing the silhouette of finely cut scenes, figures and dramatic moments from children’s stories.

One striking print in the exhibition, a lino-cut, faces the visitor immediately upon entering the gallery.

It shows a moonlit sky behind the black tracery and intricate network of high tree branches, the night sky lighted for a moment by the full moon.

Any observer of Emma’s work will immediately note that wolves are an abiding motif.

Asked why she has this fascination with the creatures, she said: “I like their shape and the way they walk, plus I enjoy all the images that wolves conjure for most people, largely due to childhood stories and fairytales.”

Emma has exhibited in Beer and Seaton as part of Devon Open Studios. Her screen-printed silhouettes reached a wider audience three years ago when she helped Kirstie Allsopp screen-print wallpaper for her TV series Kirstie’s Homemade Home.

Examples of her art can be seen at: www.emmamolony.com.