Emily Statham

'Terra Australis' After being inspired by her travels up the East Coast of Australia, Emily was driven to create a fresh and exotic collection, with her main inspiration taken from the Daintree Rainforest, located in Queensland. It is the oldest rainforest in the world, with amazing stimulation for her project as the wildlife is so diverse, due to it being located where the Great Barrier Reef meets the rainforest, and consequently being amongst the most biodiverse environments on the planet. With the current environmental issues of climate change and nearly 150 acres of rainforest being lost every minute from human activity, it is important to highlight the natural wonders and beauty of a rainforest using printed textiles. Rainforests are of importance as they play a vital role in determining the balance of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, making them climate regulators on a global scale. Through considered drawing and intricate detail, Emily aims to design for high-end interiors, printing and designing onto a variety of luxurious fabrics and materials that help illustrate her collection, ‘Terra Australis’. The name Terra Australis derives from geographers in the 18th century and was found on all first maps originating from this period, and translates to “unknown land of the South”. Emily's hand-rendered designs translate strong use of colour and tonal values within her paintings and fine line illustrations, as well as exhibiting technical abilities such a repeat.