In Conversation with Local Artists: Emma Richter
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Our current series on the Selly Manor Museum blog involves interviewing artists from Bournville, Birmingham and the surrounding areas, finding out about their creative processes and inspirations, their views on Bournville and its community, and their upcoming projects and exhibitions. Selly Manor is keen to spotlight local artists who keep our community a vibrant and dynamic place to live.
Next to be interviewed is local artist and arts educator Emma Richter, who captures the atmosphere evoked by Bournville's nature through her ethereal oil paintings.
Artist Emma Richter
Q1: Could you tell us a little about yourself and your work as an artist?
"I’m an artist, art educator and workshop facilitator based in Bournville. I graduated from Falmouth School of Art with a degree in Fine Art Painting. Painting has always been a constant part of my life, reflecting and supporting my wellbeing.
Alongside my own art practice, I’ve spent many years teaching Art to children, young people and adults in schools, colleges and universities. More recently, I’ve developed my own art workshops, with a particular interest in bringing creativity and wellbeing together.
My own work is often inspired by colour, nature, emotion and the experience of being in green spaces. I enjoy exploring paint through texture, layering, mark-making and abstraction, rather than always trying to create a literal representation of what I see. I’m interested in how painting can communicate a feeling or atmosphere as much as an image."
Artwork by Emma Richter
Q2: How does Bournville (and/or the surrounding areas) inspire your work?
"Bournville has a really distinctive warm community, and I think that sense of place naturally feeds into my work. There’s a mixture of green spaces, gardens, historic buildings and more urban surroundings, so there is always something visually interesting to respond to.
I’m particularly drawn to the quieter, everyday aspects of the area – the trees, parks and gardens, changing seasons and the way light falls across different spaces. I don’t necessarily set out to paint a specific location, but those surroundings can influence my colour choices, textures and the atmosphere within a painting."
Q3: Bournville is surrounded by both green spaces and cityscape - how do each of these influence your work?
"Green spaces give me a sense of calm and are a constant source of colour, shape, texture and movement. I’m particularly interested in plants and flowers and how they change throughout the year. There’s something about observing nature closely that can really slow you down, and that feeling often finds its way into my paintings. Birmingham is busy, diverse and constantly changing, and I’m interested in the contrast between that energy and the quieter spaces around Bournville. I think that contrast can appear in my work through stronger marks, layers, colour and more expressive forms."
'Winter 2025' by Emma Richter
Q4: Is there a particular piece of local history or heritage that you feel yourself drawn to? Why do you think this is?
"The history of Bournville and the ideas behind its development are particularly interesting to me. The connection between the village, green spaces, community and the people who lived and worked there gives the area a very strong identity. The environment was deliberately designed to create a different kind of community and quality of life. That relationship between people, place, wellbeing and the environment feels particularly relevant to my own work because I’m interested in how art and creativity can contribute to people's wellbeing."
Q5: Why do you think art is important to the local community?
"I think art gives people an opportunity to connect – with themselves, with other people and with the place where they live. It doesn’t have to be about being technically skilled or producing something that looks perfect. Taking part in something creative can give people time away from everyday pressures, an opportunity to express themselves and a reason to meet other people. Through my workshops, I’ve seen how people who might initially say, “I’m not artistic,” can become completely absorbed in the process of painting. There’s something very positive about creating something together in a relaxed environment. For a local community, I think art can also help people see their surroundings differently and create a stronger sense of identity and belonging."
Artwork by Emma Richter
Q6: How do you feel your art connects with the people of Bournville/Birmingham? Or how do you think the people of Bournville/Birmingham connect with your work?
"I think the connection comes through accessibility. I want people to feel that art is something they can take part in, regardless of their previous experience. That’s particularly important in my workshops. I create sessions where people can experiment with painting without feeling that they have to produce a perfect finished piece. The emphasis is on the experience of creating, exploring colour and enjoying the process. I really enjoy the exchange – people bring their own ideas, experiences and personalities into the work, so every session becomes slightly different."
Q7: Do you have a favourite artwork that you've created that you could talk us through?
"I feel particularly connected to my most recent works because I’m not simply interested in reproducing what I was looking at. I wanted to explore the feeling or atmosphere of my garden through colour, texture and mark-making. I built the painting up in layers, allowing some areas to remain quite loose while developing other areas with more surface detail. I particularly enjoyed the process of allowing the moment and the process to unfold and being completely submerged in the painting."
'Autumn 2025' by Emma Richter
Q8: What is next for you - do you have any upcoming projects that you're exited about?
"I’m currently developing my art workshop programme in Birmingham, particularly painting workshops that bring creativity and wellbeing together. I’m interested in developing more opportunities for people to experience painting in different settings: from community workshops, to wellbeing sessions and collaborations with local organisations and businesses. I’m also continuing to develop my own painting practice alongside the workshops. I’d like to create more opportunities to exhibit my work locally and to explore how my studio practice and community work can sit alongside each other. I’m particularly excited about continuing to build something that connects painting, creativity, wellbeing and the local community."
Our thanks to Emma for sharing how nature inspires her to create, and how she facilitates creative environments for others. If you would like to see more of Emma's work or find out more about her workshops, head to her website www.emmarichter.co.uk or her Instagram account @emma.richterarty
Written by Niamh Reid, Museum Assistant