About

Hello, I’m Emma, a freelance illustrator in London. My whimsical characters and distinctive colours have appeared in all kinds of settings from books, through labels, to heritage signage. I’m curious, flexible, experienced at meeting tight editorial deadlines and can deal sensitively with tricky subjects. 

Topics and genres I have been regularly commissioned for include: food and drink, health and medicine, culture and lifestyle, expressive illustrations of hands, business, current affairs, lettering and portraits. 

Applications of my work have included: editorial, publishing, branding, explainers and instructionals, packaging, pattern design, merchandise, reports and pitch documents.

Themes of mythology, humour, womanhood and memory often pop up in my personal work and I’m inspired by the meeting of natural and urban environments around me. 

Past clients include: BBC, Octopus Books, Girl Friday Productions, London Borough of Waltham Forest, Netflix/Flashpoint Books/Skydance TV, Chemist + Druggist magazine, The Guardian, Construction Manager magazine, KPMG, Time Out magazine, Meringue Girls, Nestle, Shapeshifter Productions, RCA, Old Tat Magazine, Symonds Cider, The Observer Food Monthly, Famous Grouse.

My work was selected for: Secret 7” 2024, TASCHEN’s 2018 compendium “Food & Drink Infographics: A Visual Guide to Culinary Pleasure”.  Shows include: Secret 7”, The Travelling Medicine Show - a solo show as part of E17 Art Trail, Mail Me Art, House of Illustration Illustrators’ Fair, Combat Stress Secret Postcard Auction, RCA Secret, Amwell Print Fair, The Things I Think About When I Think About Thinking at The Hanbury, #BAGSIE at The Proud Archivist, London Illustration Fair.

You can find more pictures on instagram @EmmaRusset

If you’d like to say hello or discuss a commission, you can reach me on emma@helloemma.co.uk or complete the form on my contact page.