Meet the artist:

Emma Valenghi

Emma Valenghi of Out Of The Garden Shed Studios is a freelance illustrator based in East Yorkshire - in her garden shed studio!

Previous to becoming a freelance illustrator Emma worked in house as a designer at Paperdove, Hallmark and Moonpig and has since added UKGreetings, American Greetings, Card Factory and Colour Heros to her list of clients as well as well as smaller independent companies and individuals.

Emma is a versatile designer and her work now expands from greetings cards to children’s illustration, children’s activity packs, character design, home furnishings and surface pattern, and even the occasional large scale mural! Her work has appeared in high-street stores such as Paperchase, M&S, Next, New Look and John Lewis as well as most of the leading supermarkets.

Her inspiration comes from nature; she loves illustrating birds, gardens, leaves, outdoor scenes, children having adventures and animals. Her own children; their imaginations, books and games. Nostalgia of her childhood; Emma was born on the tropical island of Bermuda and moved to Helmsley, a beautiful market town near The North Yorkshire Moors at the age of 10.

“I love creating little worlds and hope my illustrations tell a story and inspire imagination.”

Emma begins her designs on paper before finishing digitally. “I’m a doodler and enjoy a good old pencil sketch, paint, ink, LOTS of texture, mixed media and I’m partial to a spot of hand lettering!”

When she’s not working Emma loves cooking and chatting with her fiancé James, a trip to the seaside to blow away the cobwebs and playing hide and seek with her three little boys - who definitely help feed her vivd imagination!