Artists and Sustainability: Emelia Hewitt

This month we asked Emelia Hewitt to be featured in our ongoing series Artists and Sustainability, where we ask artists to share short responses about their work and how it might relate to climate change. Emelia is one of the artists currently exhibiting with us in Out Here – the exhibiton is in it’s final week at the date of posting! Read through Emelia’s responses to our questions below.

Does nature, the environment or looking after the planet influence your artwork in any way?

Yes, because if you’re taking pictures of nature then you don’t want to harm it at the same time. It’s about being respectful and not trying to damage it. I like insects and flowers the most, and I love taking pictures when I walk my dog. That’s when I notice the little details and find the most inspiring things.

Do you make any choices in the way you create your artwork that help the environment?

Yes, because I take my photographs on film and use natural alternatives to traditional darkroom chemicals wherever I can. The chemicals you would normally use to develop film are really bad for the environment. I get the berries I use to make anthotypes from local fields, so I’m not buying fruit from the shops where it often comes in plastic.

Do you think artists and galleries can help people think differently about the environment?

Yes, because my art is based on nature, I hope it encourages people to stop and think differently about their environment and notice the natural world around them. Exhibitions like Out Here are a good way of helping people connect with nature in different ways, and I hope my work shows that there are different ways to make photographs that are both creative and kinder to the environment.

Have you learnt anything about making art in a more environmentally friendly way that you’d like to share with other artists or visitors?

Yes, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and techniques with other people. I’ve recently been leading anthotype workshops and showing people how to make salt fixes, so I’m sharing ideas about how to work in a more environmentally friendly way through photography. I’ve really enjoyed helping other people discover these techniques, and it’s also helped me develop my confidence as a workshop leader.

Would you like to be considered for a feature in our ongoing series Artists and Sustainability? Email Ryan French on ryan@castlefieldgallery.co.uk.