Lots happens while I am drawing. I get lost. I find things. I learn and discover.

Take my hand and lets explore together through magical doorways, down the rabbit holes of our minds, out through the back of the wardrobe to places brimming with ideas, inspiration and creativity.

I would love to share my pictures and stories with you, woven together from the tapestry of life. Things I’ve lived and learned, loved and lamented; as an illustrator, mum, wife, daughter, friend and all the roles we play in our lives.


Lovely words from readers of While I Was Drawing

“Emily’s work and words always feels full of heart.” Linn

“I’m glad I found your little creative corner, especially when your wonderful drawings arrive side by side with good advice!” Susie

“This is breathtakingly beautiful writing. So immersive and enchanting.” Robyn

"Emily has so many incredible insights in the way she thinks and the way she sees things." Keeley


Some of my illustrations are waiting for you when you subscribe and you can upgrade to access my ever growing gallery of beautiful imagery.

Drawing lights my soul and makes my heart sing. I draw quirky and whimsical illustrations to bring words and ideas to life, brighten your day and make you smile.

If you have an endless appetite for beauty, if you long to see it, capture it, create it and decorate your life with it, I offer you this invitation.

Join my mini creative market for less than £2 a week. Use my illustrations to create beautiful things for your home, your life and online spaces. Write your words and choose something from my gallery to accompany them.

Print them, scrap-book them, upload them to Canva and create invitations or posters or cards. Use them on your website, in your posts. The possibilities are truly endless. The only limit is your imagination.

Not only will you get access to my gallery of high resolution digital downloads, which expands with each letter I send, you will also be supporting me to keep creating, by becoming a patron of my artwork.

Illustrations for free subscribers

If you’d love to use some of my illustrations but now isn’t the right time to upgrade, you can subscribe for free to get a beautiful bundle of 30+ illustration assets to download with my Welcome Letter and occasional free downloads in my regular posts.


An Introduction

Hello, I'm Emily.

A potted history up to today

(45 years in approx. 100 words)

I have always been creative and I have been drawing all my life.

I grew up in a little village in the English countryside. We had dogs and a cat and spent a lot of time outside, walking, cycling, playing in the garden and climbing trees. I did lots of drawing and making, and would draw while Mum read us bedtime stories.

I left home, moved to Hampshire, got a job working in the finance department at B&Q, got married, bought a house, qualified as a chartered management accountant, had two children and started my illustration business.

You can read a less abridged version ✨here

Today

I’m an accountant by day, crunching the numbers and counting the beans1, and an illustrator by night, drawing quirky and whimsical artwork to brighten your day and make you smile.

I still live in Hampshire, with my husband, our children and three crazy cocker spaniels.

There’s more of that ✨here

What’s your story?

I hope you find inspiration and ideas here and I love the thought that you might find something of your own stories in my illustrations and words. I’d love to hear your story, your inspiration, and the things that light your soul and make your heart sing.

Connect, comment, ask questions, be part of a community that shares a love of stories and inspiration.

You can see more of my illustrations and artwork and buy beautiful gifts from my website.

If you are interested in licencing any of my artwork or photography for commercial use, please get in touch at emily@thomkatillustrations.co.uk

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“Lots happens while I am drawing. I get lost. I find things. I learn and discover. I’m sharing stories with you about things I’ve lived and learned, loved and lamented, as an illustrator, mum, wife, daughter, friend and all the roles we play in our lives.

People

🧮 Accountant by day, crunching the numbers, cooking the books and tumble drying the balance sheets. 🎨Illustrator by night, drawing quirky and whimsical artwork to brighten your day and make you smile.