Hi! I’m Emily, the artist behind Illustrated. by Emily.

I draw people.

At weddings and events, I take a quick reference photo, illustrate guests live on my iPad, then print and package each illustration so they can take it home on the day.

Alongside that, I create commissioned illustrations - personal pieces drawn with the same approach, just without the dancefloor and cake.

A woman with light skin and light brown hair smiling, wearing a blue sweater with rainbow-colored embroidery and a silver necklace.

A bit about me

I live near Stirling, right at the foot of the Ochil hills, in a house with a bright yellow front door that I’m very proud of.

I’ve got two small boys, which means life is busy and loud. Not forgetting our retired racing greyhound, which means at least one of us is always asleep (spoiler alert - it’s the dog).

I don’t take myself too seriously. I love bold colour, leopard print, early 2000s pop punk and country music (Dolly Parton especially) and things that feel confident without being overdone.

How I ended up here

I have always loved to draw, but I took a slightly roundabout route to illustration.

I studied French and religion at university, then worked in luxury beauty before becoming a teacher. Teaching religion and philosophy gave me structure, confidence, and the ability to explain things clearly - which turns out to be very useful when you’re drawing people live at weddings, or working one-to-one on commissions.

After I had my two boys, the need for a creative outlet grew and from that came Illustrated. by Emily.

How I work

I work digitally on my iPad Pro, which keeps things simple and unobtrusive when illustrating live at events.

There’s no mess for venues to worry about, no drying time, and nothing slowing the process down. It also means I can work quickly and consistently, while still keeping the illustrations thoughtful and personal.

At weddings, everything runs quietly in the background.
For commissions, the process is clear, collaborative, and easy.

Illustration of a diverse group of eight fashionable people, including a woman in a wheelchair, posing together on a black stage with a circular pattern.

The important bits

I care about people feeling comfortable.
I care about things being done well.
I care that the finished illustration is something people genuinely want to keep.

I work in a way that’s welcoming and respectful of everyone - all couples, all families, all identities. My work is LGBTQ+ friendly, neurodivergent-friendly, and rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen and at ease.

If you’re here because you’re planning a wedding and want to add something creative and personal - or you’re looking for a commissioned illustration - then you’re in the right place.