Emma Nicol aka Team Forever Kittens is from Portsmouth on the UK, south coast. You can normally find her in the workshop at The Hotwalls Studios stitching illustrations using textiles and embroidery of customers homes or pets. Although Emma predominately works with textiles she loves to create illustrations in different mediums and has started creating artwork under the pseudonym Team Forever Kittens (the name Emma's fiancé gave her and the cat - the cat isn't actually there's by the way, it just thinks he lives with them).
I just decorated a room in my house especially to house my cactus collection.
I was one of those kids that was always drawing, so I guess I started illustration young but I didn’t really take it seriously until I studied illustration at uni.
I’m currently inspired by popular culture and the spoken word. I love to illustrate the funny sayings people say.
I ride my bike along the beach to my studio. My workspace is built in the arch of a historic military barracks which was recently converted into 13 artist studios. I open up the studio which is also open to the public, people come in to watch the artists work and buy work directly from us. At lunch I literally have to walk a couple of paces and I’m on the beach. It’s a pretty amazing place to work.
I only tend to get creative block when I’m really busy or stressed. Sometimes I have to check in with myself, take a minute to relax and take in my surroundings. As soon as I do that the ideas come rushing in!
I normally sell products so this doesn’t really apply to me. If I did have a list however Nine by Nine would be up there of course.
An iPad, Apple Pencil and a cup of tea!
I’m a sucker for Pinterest I can get lost for hours looking at current trends.
Its hard work but it’s worth it in the end.
I would love to illustrate for a book.
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