Emma Bradley is an artist based in Edinburgh and a recent graduate from Edinburgh College of Art. Working primarily with ink on paper, her practice explores the relationship between urban landscapes, the natural world, and the traces of human presence within changing environments. Drawing from aerial perspectives, satellite imagery, and the visual language of maps, Emma creates layered compositions where cities, landscapes, and human structures begin to dissolve into abstract patterns. She is interested in the movement and rhythms of people within these spaces, and how human presence leaves behind visible traces within the landscape. Through the unpredictable nature of ink and fluid materials, Emma allows the spontaneity to guide the development of each work, embracing moments of chance as the ink spreads and creates unexpected forms. Balancing abstraction with recognisable structures, Emma’s paintings invite viewers to look more closely at familiar landscapes and reconsider how they are experienced from above.

Thanks for being with us, Emma! Tell us, what excites you about your work? Are there particular themes that run through your practice that you’re particularly passionate about?
What excites me most about my work is looking at familiar places from a different perspective. I’m drawn to aerial viewpoints and repeatedly find myself photographing scenes from bridges, stairwells, cliffs and windows to inspire my future paintings. There is something that interests me about being removed from the noise and movement of everyday life and seeing the landscape below as an intricate, almost abstract pattern. Through colour, I transform these familiar landscapes into something unexpected, encouraging people to see them in a new way.

Tell us about your chosen mediums, why do you enjoy working with them?
I’ve always enjoyed experimenting with different materials, but ink is a medium I continually return to because of its unpredictability. I don’t always decide what the ink will do; instead, I respond to how it moves, allowing my work to develop naturally through the process. Some of my favourite moments happen when the material does something I hadn’t planned. I always enjoy working on the floor and close to the surface. It makes the process very immersive and allows me to be completely absorbed in the making of the piece.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your
artwork?
I hope my work invites people to pause and look a little closer. From a distance, the paintings can appear abstract, but as viewers spend more time with them, I want them to discover the smaller details and recognise forms within them. I enjoy the idea that each person can create their own narrative within the work, imagining themselves within these spaces and finding their own connections. Ultimately, I hope the paintings create a sense of curiosity and are able to engage and captivate the viewer.

Tell us about your creative process – has your time at art school impacted your work or methods?
My process usually begins with collecting photographs and satellite imagery, often from places I’ve visited or moments that have caught my attention. I keep these printed images and books around me in the studio, allowing them to constantly feed into the work as I’m painting. I use these as starting points rather than something to copy directly. My time at art school really encouraged me to experiment and trust my instincts. I’ve become much more confident in embracing uncertainty and allowing the media I use to guide the direction of the work, rather than always having a fixed idea of what it should look like beforehand.

Now that you’ve finished your degree, what’s next for you?
I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my practice and creating more work in the studio! I have a few exhibitions coming up, including one at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh which I’m really excited about. I also enjoy sharing my creative process through video and online platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. From documenting the making of a piece to sharing the realities of being an artist, I enjoy giving people an insight into the journey behind my work and reaching a wider audience around the world. I hope to keep experimenting, building my portfolio and connecting with people through my work.

Now that you’ve graduated, what advice would you give to someone just starting at art school?
My best advice would be to really push yourself in the first few years and take the opportunity to experiment as much as possible. Try something new, make work that feels unfamiliar, and don’t be afraid of things not working out. I’d also say to trust your own instincts. At art school you’re surrounded by so many opinions about what is right or wrong, but ultimately you know your work and ideas best. Looking back, I’ve realised the moments when I trusted my instincts most were moments where my work grew the most. Give yourself permission to explore, make mistakes and follow the ideas that genuinely excite you.

Find out more about Emma’s work on Instagram or her website, and see her work in Starter Pack, our annual graduate showcase, running at Six Foot Gallery until Thursday the 27th of August.