Emma Biggs (born 1956) is a London-based
mosaic
A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
artist and author of a number of standard textbooks on contemporary mosaic practice. Having recently completed a large public art project — "Made in England" — based on the visual culture and ideology of the pottery industry in
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent (often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Staffordshire, England, with an area of . In 2019, the city had an estimated population of 256,375. It is the largest settlement ...
(in the English midlands), her work has become increasingly concerned with the ceramic industry and its social history. As a fine artist Emma Biggs makes abstract paintings with her husband,
Matthew Collings
Matthew Collings (born 1955) is a British art critic, writer, broadcaster, and artist. He is married to Emma Biggs, with whom he collaborates on art works.
Education
Born in London in 1955, Collings studied at Byam Shaw School of Art, and Golds ...
. The processes, formats and titles of the paintings also relate to her interest in material culture. She has written Mosaic Techniques (Cassell, 2003) and several other books co-authored with Tessa Hunkin, who joined her after she founded the London-based Mosaic Workshop in 1988. Mosaic Workshop have been responsible for a number of high-profile commissions including work for some of the chapels in London's Westminster Cathedral. She is a regular tutor of short courses in mosaic art at West Dean College, the study centre of the Edward James Foundation. She also lectures at
City and Guilds of London Art School
Founded in 1854 as the Lambeth School of Art, the City and Guilds of London Art School is a small specialist art college located in central London, England. Originally founded as a government art school, it is now an independent, not-for-profit ...
.
Books
* Mosaic Techniques, Cassel, 1999
* Stylish and Simple Mosaic, Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin, Aurum Press, 1998
* Mosaic Workshop, Emma Biggs & Tessa Hunkin, David & Charles, 1999
* Mosaics for the Home and Garden, Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin, David & Charles, 2001
* The Complete Book of Mosaics, Emma Biggs and Tessa Hunkin, Reader's Digest Association, 2005
* Mosaic Patterns, Emma Biggs & Tessa Hunkin, New Holland, 2006
* Garden Mosaics, Emma Biggs & Tessa Hunkin, New Holland, 2009
External links
*http://www.emmabiggsmosaic.net/
*http://www.emmabiggsandmatthewcollings.net
*http://www.thepotteries.org/mosaic/index.htm
*http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6207380.stm
*http://public-art.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/big421im.html
*http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/london/canary/index.shtml
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070604150552/http://www.westdean.org.uk/index.htm
*https://web.archive.org/web/20070807101803/http://www.westdean.org.uk/site/arts/gallery/mosaic/emma-biggs.htm
*http://www.mosaicworkshop.com/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biggs, Emma
1956 births
Mosaic artists
English contemporary artists
Living people