Emma Copley
Glimpses of the everyday and human connection are on going threads within my work. Each painting is inspired by everyday life: a dark sink full of dishes with the sun coming in the window, or my son and daughter sitting with their backs to me, watching TV. I take pictures of these moments; make notes on colour and sketch. Using the photo as a starting point I create the composition on panel and eliminate areas from the image in order to intensify the emotion.
My largest works are 14 metres long and smallest 15 x 22 centimetres. My paintings begin with muted tones, using greys tinted with primary colour, ending with an infusion of bright colour that relates closely to these. I spend a lot of time looking at my palette and mixing groups of colour. Brushstrokes vary between smooth, slow, thoughtful marks and fast, thick layers of paint.
I paint and draw with thick oils on wood; smooth, flat gouache; ink and charcoal on paper. When using oils, I paint quickly with a palette knife spreading globs of paint on a smooth hard surface, wet into wet, carving out forms and building up texture.
Education
2017 Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge School of Art, Master’s Degree in Fine Arts (DI)
2001 Rhode Island School Of Design, Providence, RI, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting
2001 European Honours Programme, Rome, Italy, Rhode Island School Of Design (Hons)
Group Exhibitions
2024
Winter Open, Babylon Gallery, Ely, December
Mill Road Exhibition, Romsey Mill, Cambridge, December
The Miniatures Challenge, Canal Boat Contemporary, London, November
2023
Sanctuary, Women in Art Prize, Leper Chapel, Cambridge
UnConsumed, The Shoe Factory Norwich, March
2022
Framing Our Future, Art Can, March
Newmarket Open, National Horse Racing Museum, Jan - Apr
Winter, Kingsgate Project Space, London, 21 Jan - 12 Feb
2021
‘A Generous Space’, Hasting Contemporary, 26 Nov - 17 Apr
Letchworth Open, Broadway Art Gallery, curated by Kristian Day
2020
8 May - 19 June, @houseboundart, Chapel Arts Studios
2019
Summer Open, ARB Gallery, University of Cambridge, June
2018
The Other Art Fair, London, October
Cambridge Original Print Biennale, Cambridge
20x20 Hospital Rooms, Griffin Gallery, London
2017
PIY Paint Lounge, Sluice Biennial, London
Epilogue, Gallery 9, Norfolk St, Cambridge
Flare, MA Degree Show, Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge School of Art
Axis, MA Fine Art and Photography Exhibition, Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge School of Art
This One’s For You, Cambridge School of Art
Collaboratory, Artspace, Cambridge
Sustainability Art Prize, Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge School of Art
2016
Mapping Translations, Artspace, Cambridge
The Other Art Fair, Old Truman Brewery, London
Cambridge Art Fair, Josephine Harpur Gallery
The Aldeburgh Gallery, Norfolk
Lynn Painter Stainers Touring Exhibition, Guildford Art Gallery
The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize, Ashurst llp, London
Introducing, Beside the Wave, Primrose Hill, London
Lynn Painter Stainers Prize and Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Ecriture Feminine, Edgar Modern, Bath
2015
Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year Exhibition, Lyme Park, Cheshire
ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, The Mall, London
Summer Exhibition, Addenbrookes Art Programme, Cambridge
Cambridge Drawing Society, Guildhall, Cambridge
2012
The Sketchbook Project, Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, NY
Icing: Emma Copley Claire Sherwood, The Arts Center, Troy, NY
Allscapes, The Art Center of the Capitol Region, Troy, NY
2000
Disegni Dagli Album, European Honours Programme, RISD, Rome, Italy
Solo Exhibitions
2019-2020 Nov-Mar, ‘24 Portraits: Recovering and Reimagining Women’s Labour’, University of Cambridge
2017 Oct-Dec, ‘Pictures of You’, The Hospital Club, London
2013 Changing Spaces, Regents Street, Cambridge
2011 Dreams and Memories, Salem Art Works, Salem, NY
2008 Nitty Gritty, Yates Art Gallery, Siena College, Albany, NY
2001 The Show, Senior Thesis, European Honours Program, RISD, Rome, Italy
Awards / Residencies / Collections
2025/26 New Platform Art - Selected for Professional Development Programme
2023 Feb, Group Winner (East Anglia Art Can Group) Holly Bush Women's Painting Prize
2022 Jan, Artist Surfaces Award, Artist Support Pledge
2020
March, Added to the University of Cambridge’s permanent collection of artworks.
March Longlisted Jackson’s Painting Prize, 2 paintings, ‘Family II’ and ‘Sea Water’
2019 Awarded Grant by University of Cambridge to support making of ‘24 Portraits’
2018
Winner The Other Art Fair x Habitat Award, Habitat AW18 Collection
Artist in Residence, The Stephen Perse Foundation, Cambridge
2017 Commissioned, British Airways Advertisement
2016
Selected for ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
Selected for The Ashurst Emerging Art Prize, London
Selected for the Lynn Painter Stainers Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2015
Semi Finalist for Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year
Selected for ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
Publications
2021 Housebound, Chapel Arts, curated by Susane Francis
2020 Feb ‘24 Portraits’, Online RISD Alumni News Article
2018
Featured, The Telegraph, ‘The expert guide to buying, framing, hanging art in your home’
Featured, House Beautiful, ‘Hello Gallery Wall’
Featured, The Habitat Blog
2017 Mar Featured, Artists and Illustrators Magazine, ‘Painters to Watch’
2016
Dec Interview, Saatchi Art Canvas, ‘One to Watch’
Nov Interview, Aesthetica Magazine https://aestheticamagazine.com/representational-painting/
Oct Featured Article, Nov The Artist Magazine
Helping Artists Keep Going
Axis is an artist-led charity supporting contemporary visual artists with resources, connection, and visibility.