# Emma Carlisle
*Artist and picture book maker*

Emma Carlisle is an illustrator and artist based just outside Exeter, Devon. Her interest in art and storytelling began at a young age when Emma was encouraged with endless trips to the local library and a good supply of pencils and poster paint at home. Interest grew into a passion, which Emma pursued by studying Illustration at the University of Plymouth followed by an MA in Children's Book Illustration at the University of Cambridge. She went on to publish several beautifully illustrated children's books that have been nominated for a number of awards, including the Kate Greenway Award and the Klaus Flugge Prize.In 2018, Emma transitioned away from picture books and toward a more experimental approach to image making. In a daring move towards reinvention, Emma returned to sketching and location drawing. She documented her evolution on Instagram, where she's built a beautiful community of creatives. Emma has now returned to picture books that capture the location drawing she has practiced over the last few years and also creates gorgeous large canvases as well as quick and expressive observational studies. Up until 2022, Emma lectured Children’s Book Illustration at the University of Plymouth, where she taught for 7 years, before taking the leap into full-time illustration.Emma believes that you don't have to be an artist or an illustrator to enjoy just being in nature and drawing. You just need a pencil and a piece of paper. She is now ready to guide you into creating your own beautiful sketches in magnificent week-long retreats.Find Emma Carlisle at www.emmacarlisle.com, on Patreon, Facebook, or Instagram @emmacarlisle_.

**Connect:** [Website](https://www.emmacarlisle.com/) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/emmacarlisleillustration) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/emmacarlisle_/)

## Retreats led by Emma Carlisle

### Sketchbook Exploration Art Retreat with Artist Emma Carlisle in France
June 10 - 17, 2026 · Teyssode, Occitanie, France · $4,550
Instructors: Emma Carlisle
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/sketchbook-exploration-art-retreat-with-artist-emma-carlisle-france) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/sketchbook-exploration-art-retreat-with-artist-emma-carlisle-france#book)

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**Last updated:** 2023-11-28