Recent Illustration Commissions

  'A picture is better than a thousand words! Huge thanks Emer for your great work illustrating our community consultation on what wellbeing means to our people. Given only a short amount of time, a lot of data and probably a rather opaque brief, you have produced a series of illustrations that showcase the headline themes from our consultation. These simple but colourful images convey messages that actually have so much value in our community but in a way that is accessible to all and very powerful through their simplicity.

We have a montage of them hanging in our Café and they are becoming a really engaging talking point with visitors as they identify with the images. Using them in our reports means we can convey really important information clearly, concisely and with impact. We'll be back!'

Helene van der Ploeg, Enterprise Manager | Space & Broomhouse Hub

 'Our team at the Scottish Government required a fast and efficient turnaround on some graphics work at a reasonable price. Emer worked with us to produce interesting work, and was patient and professional even when our specification and timeframes changed. She provided an accessible end product which told a great story. Thanks Emer!'

Amy Marshall
Policy Officer, Directorate for Agriculture and Economy | Scottish Government

 'Part of our aims with the SDS Road Testers project was to provide accessible information about Self Directed Support to disabled people and also to share learning far and wise. Emer worked with us on our Champions project and by understanding the issues involved she produced some bespoke graphics for GDA which underline key messages about choice and control. This was also evidenced in the Mural for the 'My Choices: I Did it My Way' event and the powerful images created for GDA were an excellent aide memoire to key messages and learning from the project.'

Tressa Burke

Chief Executive | Glasgow Disability Alliance

'Wise Women were commissioned by 2 Services to carry out a consultation for the Scottish Government with their service users who had been trafficked into the UK for exploitation.  It was suggested that over and above note takers a Graphic Recorder could be present to record information on a more creative level for the services and participants.

I had heard of this being really successful when done at large events in bigger venues however given the sensitive nature of these sessions, the lower numbers and the possibility of triggering trauma I was wary of how it would work.

Bottom line……it worked amazingly well.

Emer spoke to me several times regarding layout of the room and what was required in terms of space so that she could follow the conversation without interrupting the flow, distracting the participants or facilitators and allowing time in the programme to review her work.

Which she set up set up behind the participants and you wouldn’t have known she was there.

Everyone was amazed at the level of information she had managed to record and participants were able to recognise their contribution without it having to be translated by the interpreters which was incredibly empowering for some of them.

An inventive, creative and imaginative way of recording a difficult subject that was accessible to everyone attending was just fantastic and fully complimented what was said.

It gave an added edge to what can often be seen as yet another dry information consultation. 

Photographs of the recordings are included in the reports and I feel they (even if just for curiosity sake) will prompt discussion about the day and discussion about the issue of trafficking is what we need. 

I would thoroughly recommend this service. '

Frances Monaghan

Manager | Wise Women

 'Emer, it was great to have you join us for the Staff Conference and the visual you have created is outstanding. Staff loved seeing it develop over the weekend and we will now get it printed up and on display in our Centres and offices as a visual reference point back to the key messages of the weekend. Thank you.'

Martin Davidson

Chief Executive | Outward Bound Trust

  'Emer worked with us as a Graphic Recorder as part of a 2-day professional training residential for youth workers at Comrie Croft, Perthshire. I asked her to take part as we had a variety of facilitators leading the different workshops and I was concerned that it may seem fragmented and difficult to bring together. Emer was incredibly professional and worked quietly in the background during the sessions. At the end of the residential she summed up her illustrations, highlighting the key learning points from each workshop and creating a connection between each session. Every participant took photos of the illustration and I noticed that they looked at it and chatted about it throughout the residential. I feel it added depth to the training and was a very powerful learning tool. I would definitely work with Emer again.'

Kate Allen, Education Adviser | Scotdec