Welcome to the Plum Family, Emma Haines!

Have a read of our latest post and get to know our new illustrator, Emma Haines!

Where do you live/work?

I live in Leicestershire in the Midlands with my dog and boyfriend and I work in our pretty teeny spare bedroom that I’ve turned into a studio.

What do you like about working there?

I like that I can work with no make up snuggling Lola Peanut the French Bulldog. She likes to stare me out until I give up and take her for a walk. We’re really near a country park full of deer so we nip there for walkies most days which is lovely.

What do you love most about being an illustrator?
I love most that I can count drawing an octopus with glasses ‘work’ sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am that I can make a living from something I would want to do for free anyway.

How did you get into illustration?

I got into illustration but loving art since I was a kid. I always got these wooden boxes of art equipment from WH Smiths for Christmas and that started me off. Eventually I ended up on an illustration course and that was it!

How do you work – what are your techniques?

I love to work mainly on the Mac. I love to collect loads of reference then I make basic blocks of shapes which I build to make my creatures and then I add as much lovely texture as I can get away with.

Do you have a favourite illustrator?

I don’t have an actual favourite because I love so many but Jon Klassen an Oliver Jeffers for their sense of humour, Paper & Cloth design studio for their general stunning-ness and Corby Tindersticks (Carly Gledhill) for her originality.

Do you have a particular favourite character that you’ve illustrated?

I draw a unicorn on a rainbow that makes me pretty happy. She looks sassy.

What or who are you most inspired by?

I have a print and pattern background so my artwork is heavily inspired by trends in that area and also my boyfriend Will constantly inspires me. We do lots of lovely creative things together which keeps me inspired.

What do you like to do in your spare time when you’re not illustrating?

In my spare time I like to watch bake off, go for walks, go shopping and start craft projects and forget to finish them. I have recently finished a large stretch of making pom pom wreaths but our small house can no longer fit anymore in.

What is your favourite thing to draw and why?

I like drawing animals the best. I particularly like putting them in party hats.

What are your three top tips for aspiring illustrators?

1.Don’t give up, keep going, even when it’s tough.

2.Use what colours make you happy.

3.You can change style whenever you like, if something isn’t working just do something new. I specialised in collage when I was at uni and it all looked hideous so I worked on having a new style.

What were your favourite books when you were younger?

My favourite books were anything by Roald Dahl and The Velveteen Rabbit.

What was the last book you read? What did you think?

The last book I read was The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne which broke my heart a bit.

What are your aspirations for the rest of 2018?

Be more zen and to work on some children's picture books.

What’s your ultimate dream?

My ultimate dream is to be less stressy, to go on holiday to the US and have slightly bigger house with a very practical drive