A solo show as part of the E17 Art Trail
Mother’s Ruin gin palace, London E17 1st - 16th June 2024

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Liquors. Potions. Philtres. Lotions. 
Roll up, roll up for an installation of elixir bottles and curios, by illustrator and artist Emma Russell, accompanied by a collection of new prints.
Why are we seduced by promises from uncertain sources? What if a little magic really could change the world?

 The travelling medicine show, popular in the Victorian era, was a sideshow entertainment by purveyors of ineffective patent medicines, often accompanied by circus-style entertainments to draw a crowd. This small show is an exploration of the contradiction between dangerous falsehoods, the seductiveness of bewitching entertainments and the wish for possible change. I’ve spent my adult life skating a line between the desire to believe in magic and transformation, and the realism of rationality.

I was delighted that my work was selected for Secret 7” for the 3rd time. 2024’s auction of sleeves was supporting War Child’s vital work and the exhibition took place at Now Gallery SE10 from 2 - 17 March 2024. I made this paper sculpture sleeve for the amazing single Stop This Flame by Celeste.

Rough for an imagined pub sign.
Brief from The Association of Illustrators “Site Specific Creative Practice” course signwriting session with Hana Sunny Studio. I chose The Bird in Hand from the list of traditional pub names and imagined a pub with colourful maximalist decor.

Some of the illustrations produced for a large explainer infographic
Client: Undisclosed for privacy

Client: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Used across posters, lamp post wraps, banners, online, postcards, guide booklets

I made the piece in sections which could be split and put back together in other formations to allow the work to be used on media of different kinds/proportions.

Digital portrait with pattern

Client: Girl Friday Productions for Skydance/Netflix

I was commissioned to illustrate the tie-in book for cult Netflix show Grace and Frankie. They required spot illustrations throughout, many for the funny "recipes" and quizzes.

Publishing

Trust Your Gut

Self directed lettering piece

Self directed illustration for article about self care

I was invited to take part in the Combat Stress secret postcard auction in 2021. For one of the two postcards, I painted a self portrait in inks and acrylics with a subtext about difficult communication, I recreated this image as a digital illustration.

Self directed

For imagined article about remote working and digital/online life. The characters are removed from their different physical environments but joined by the network via which they are working and communicating.

Individual people focus, removed from their physical environments and linked together as a network. Remote working, podcasts, zoom calls - everyone in individual spaces, but all connected.

Advertising poster and social media
Client: Cluster Cabaret Theatre

Client: Hidden Strengths learning

Series of illustrations for coaching topics for a workshop, plus a “rich picture” takeaway reminder, composed of all the illustrations.

Client: Meringue Girls

Illustration for merchandise

Client: BBC

Editorial

Animated gif

Self directed

Label illustration and design

Client: Chesters Wine Merchants

Animated GIF

Self directed

Cuckoo

3D paper illustration

New 2021 hug protocols!

Do not attempt a hug without your government sanctioned hug paddles. Approach cautiously with hug paddles extended. Embrace with caution interacting only with paddles. Mmmmmm. Hugs.

Self directed in-faux-graphic

Self directed

Lockdown 1, 2 and 3 illustrated as three floors of a house from ground to attic.

Clients: Role Plays for Training and Hidden Strengths Learning

I designed, and organised printing of, a joint Christmas card for two training and development companies to send to their shared clients. The brief was for a charming front door with wreath and snow and some wellies, giving a feeling of cosiness with a sense of the possibility of adventure.

Self directed

For the Women of Illustration prompt "validate yourself instead of waiting on someone else to do it".

Self directed

Client: BBC

Editorial

For the article on OCD and Coronavirus

Self Directed

Animated gif

Self-directed

Self directed

Self directed

For the Women of Illustration prompt "It’s ok to cry".

Self directed

Client: BBC

Editorial

Adult child of an anti-vaccination mother develops serious preventable illnesses.

Paper sculpture

Self directed

Self directed

Record sleeve for “This is a call” by Foo Fighters selected for Secret 7” 2020

Paper construction

Client: BBC

Editorial

For an article on people disregarding COVID safety measures and abusing Track and Trace operators.

Client - BBC

Editorial

Self directed

GIF

Client - Octopus Books

Publishsing

Non-fiction, Food and Drink

Client - The Wild Honey Pie

Music

Cover art for live video. Creation of font and titles.

Self-directed

Client - Charles and Keith

Advertising and Social Media

Self directed “Happy Dance” gif celebrating being selected for Secret 7”

Client - Old Tat Magazine

Type - Fashion Editorial

Illustrated interview for Kollektiv

Self directed

Client: BBC

Editorial

Client - BBC

Editorial

Client - Charles and Keith

Advertising and Social Media

Art on a Postcard

Illustrated interview

Client - The Meringue Girls

Illustration for merchandise

Clients - The Guardian, Symonds Cider

Advertorial

Later selected for TASCHEN’s compendium “Food & Drink Infographics: A Visual Guide to Culinary Pleasure”

Series of illustrations for an advertising editorial.

Self directed

Depression, part of a series of “pretty” pictures about mental health.

Advert for a local beer company

Clients- Creekmouth Preservation Society, Barking & Dagenham Council

Commissioner and Designer - Objectif

Site specific. Charity. Heritage.

Exhibition - Secret 7”

Record sleeve for Grounds for Divorce by Elbow

Exhibition - #BAGSIE

A collaboration between Soapbox & Sons, Emma Taylor of Creative Advice Network and photographer Jonathan Knowles

Ten illustrators were selected to take part. We each made a self portrait on a paper bag exposing some inner aspect of ourselves, to be slipped over our heads for a photoshoot. The photos and bags were exhibited at The Proud Archivist.

Self directed

Sold as TShirt through Everpress

Christmas greeting card

Self directed

3D paper illustration

Client: BBC

Illustration to accompany article about PMDD

Client - The Meringue Girls

Illustration for merchandise

Exhibition “Rhyming Slang” at The Lauriston, London

Exhbition “Zoo” at The Hanbury, London

Exhibition “Spectrum” at The Lauriston, London

Self-directed

Publishing

Folio Society competition entry for The Folio Collection of Ghost Stories. Illustration for The Upper Berth and cover illustration.

Self directed

Made for London Illustration Fair

Client: Chesters Wine Merchants

Brand design, including logo and lettering for an independent wine merchant. Label design for their self-produced gins.