Shropshire doctor Emma Lawrence tells how region inspired crafts

Continually inspired by the Shropshire countryside, the illustrator and designer loves to celebrate our native flora and fauna in her work.

Emma also particularly enjoys putting the underdogs of nature in the spotlight such as the likes of earthworms and snails that she believes are often overlooked.

She has even published three children's books aimed at encouraging youngsters of all ages to explore the great outdoors.

"I've always had a fascination with nature and what we can see all around us. I love drawing and being creative and I've always loved making things. I could draw all day and all night if I could," says the mother of two, who lives near Shrewsbury.

Her love of drawing began also began at a young age but after being discouraged from studying art she ended up reading psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She went on to study for her doctorate and spent 20 years working in the NHS, finishing her career as a consultant neuro-psychologist at Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust.

"I loved my job but as you can imagine it was very stressful and there was a lot of pressure.

"I've got two young daughters and I couldn't drop them off at school or pick them up. I wanted a much better balance.

"I was also increasingly drawing in my spare time as my way of winding down after a stressful day," explains Emma, who is a member of the Association of Illustrators and the Society of Authors.

At the same time she was also undertaking commissions which included many projects for the NHS including writing and designing a booklet on perinatal mental health and postcards reminding parents to take their youngsters for their first and second year check-ups.

After spending time recuperating from an operation, Emma decided to take the leap and hand in her notice so she could concentrate on drawing full-time.

"I thought I could never leave my job because of my patients but then the opportunity arose and it felt the right time to leave," she tells Weekend.

That was two and a half years ago and since then she has completed many more commissions and launched her own greetings cards stationery and gift ranges which feature her unique illustrations.

Among the projects she has worked on have been an enchanted trail guide for Hawkstone Park Follies and maps for Shropshire Festivals, posters for Shrewsbury Flower Festival and Harper Adams University and activity sheets for Acton Scott Historic Working Farm in Church Stretton.

Her illustrations feature various subjects from jugs of wildflowers and birds to sheep and other animals wearing wellies.

"The animals wearing wellies have been really popular. That's the thing about anything I draw, it tends to make people smile because it's fun," she says.

And there is always one thing that features in the vast majority of her designs. "In almost every illustration I do, there is a little bird somewhere on the design."

Emma has also published three books so far – The Worm, Slugs & Snails and Butterflies – in her Little Nature Explorers series and is planning a fourth about bees.

"There are not many books out there for young children on nature especially the little creatures like insects, snails and butterflies that are often overlooked. It's all about the bigger animals.

"It's good to get children outside and exploring what's out there in their gardens or in hedgerows so they understand and appreciate it more," she explained.

The books are educational and cover concepts such as camouflage, hibernation, life cycles, predators and food chains, seasons, the weather and different habitats.

For any drawing Emma does she always ensures she researches the subject thoroughly so they are as accurate as possible.

"I try to make the creatures like the snails look as accurate as possible but then I'll give them a cute face to make them more appealing to children," she explains.

All of the her designs and illustrations are hand-drawn with a black ink pen first and then are either coloured in with pencil crayons or digitally on her computer.

She loves to draw in her home studio where Emma has an inspiring view of the Shropshire hills to help fuel her creativity.

"I love the challenge of a commission, when someone comes to me with an idea or a doodle on a scrap of paper. I love researching and problem solving, I think that's where my science background comes in.

"I worked with people who had suffered brain injuries or strokes and had to be creative to find new ways for them to do things differently.

"I used my art skills with one patient whose visual memory was better than his verbal memory. I draw details pictures of all of the activities that he did so he could stick them in his diary and know what he was doing by looking at the pictures rather than having the words written down," explains Emma.

She was highly commended in the Gift of the Year 2019 having also been highly commended at last year's event for her children's gift range which includes, notepads, stickers, wildflower seed paper, colour-in cards, badges and bug mugs.

This year her necklace collection which offers a card and gift in one has been nominated impressed the judges. They feature a pewter pendant of a bee, butterfly or bird which forms part of the card design and has been made by a Shropshire artisan.

"It's great to be a finalist again and I'm really pleased with the pendants because my drawings have been translated so precisely," says Emma, who won a place at Manchester Stationery Show in 2017 as part of its Launchpad competition for new products and designs.

She has also worked with Shropshire bag maker Sandra Harris of Buttonbury to have pencil cases and cosmetic purses made using fabric featuring her designs.

While some of her illustrations have also been licensed for a range of kitchenware including mugs and tea towels as well as gift sets for adults and children.

"I would like to establish more licensing partnerships for my designs for other products so that I could concentrate on drawing and coming up with new designs.

"I would also like to expand my greetings cards range. My head is full of ideas.There is so much I want to do," says Emma.

*See www.emmalawrence.com