Emily Walton is currently studying a Fine Art Ba(Hons) at De Montfort University. This follows on from completing her Foundation Course at South Downs College, in Portsmouth where she grew up. Walton is predominantly a sculptural artist however, views herself also as multi-disciplinary; often venturing into other disciplines such as photography and combining them. Starting out with creative interests as a child, Walton later discovered a passion for ceramics throughout her school years. Taking this forward in to college, she began to explore the use of ceramics and clay in her sculpture works. It wasn’t until a student on the foundation course that the artist began to experiment with photography as a medium within her work, discovering techniques and processes such as time lapse, macro-photography as well as standard digital photography and the ways in which this process could assist the development of her practice. This new-found interest in multiple-disciplines led to an interest in installation work and how the artist could use mixed media within her studio work. Walton’s broadened multi-disciplinary fascination has continued developing throughout her degree course, through material experimentation and the use of the gallery space.

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Walton’s motivation towards her studio practice comes from a solid enthusiasm towards animal rights. Having previously been a vegan and now active vegetarian, the artist strongly believes in the fair treatment of animals and their well-being. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and other animal rights organisations, as well as political and cultural arguments inform her studio research. The artist seeks Inspiration from those working in similar media such as Martin Parr, Damien Hirst, Mark Quinn and Berlinde De Bruyckere. De Bruyckere, is also influenced by the death of animals and how death as a focus, is reflected around the world. The work captivates Walton as it is visually captivating as well interestingly presented within the exhibition space. She has also researched artists working with similar concepts including Chaime Soutine and Francis Bacon. In a similar way to De Bruyckere, Walton is mesmerized by the ‘moment of realization’ in the viewer. She is examining the feelings of the viewer in this moment within the exhibition space, as they are met with potentially shocking pieces of artwork. Feeding off this awareness, Emily Walton produces work slightly abstracted to permit this greater ‘moment of realization’ upon recognition.

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Emily Walton has been trialing materials such as latex casts, vacuum packaging and blood-like liquids, displaying parts of the human body in ways that animals are displayed when killed and packaged for food. The artist is exploring what death and our physical bodies would look like if the same treatment inflicted on animals was inflicted upon humans. As well as this Walton has begun using composite manipulated images.

Throughout her research and practice, Emily Walton is continuously asking the question ‘what if it were us?’