Emma Duncan is a painter who lives and works in East Lothian, Scotland. Here she shares her passion for golfing landscapes and gives her artistic perspective of well known Scottish golf courses from the sky.
Emma Duncan is not just a painter; she’s a storyteller, of sorts, weaving the narratives of golfing landscapes through the strokes of her brush. As a graduate of Grays School of Art in Aberdeen, Emma has spent years developing a unique perspective on landscape painting, one that defies traditional norms and explores the world from above.
"I've always been fascinated by landscapes," Emma shares. "But I wanted to do more than just capture a single viewpoint. I was really interested in configurations of canvases, different parts and perspectives, to try and encapsulate the entirety of a place. This curiosity naturally led me to aerial landscapes."
Emma’s work is characterised by its ability to blend the abstract with the natural, drawing connections between the patterns seen from above and the traditional forms of painting. "When you look at the Earth from above, the patterns and shapes you see are quite painterly and abstract," she explains. "It unified my love of landscape painting and abstraction, allowing me to explore both in a single piece."
So much more than art
But it's not just the beauty of the landscapes that captivates Emma. It's the history and the interaction between the natural and the man-made that truly inspires her. "From above, you can see a much greater scale of a landscape. You see the traces left behind from what used to be there, how the natural and the man-made landscape come together," she says. "It’s fascinating to see these traces and think about how the land has changed over time."
Living in Scotland, Emma is surrounded by some of the world’s most renowned golf courses, which have become a significant source of inspiration for her aerial landscapes. "Golf courses, especially links courses like St Andrews, are beautiful examples of how landscapes have been sculpted by people for centuries," she reflects. "But they weren’t shaped for something practical like agriculture—they were designed purely for pleasure. To me, they represent something about our joyful relationship with the land."
The merging of natural and man-made landscapes
Emma's work often touches on deeper themes, such as land use, borders, and boundaries. "Implicit in my work are issues of how the natural and man-made landscapes merge and the traces they leave behind," she says. These themes are evident in her aerial views of golf courses, where the human hand is visible in the shaping of the land, yet it still feels intrinsically connected to nature.
Despite her deep connection to these landscapes, Emma admits she’s not much of a golfer herself. "I don’t really have a relationship with golf in that sense," she laughs. "My mother-in-law is a keen golfer, and one of my daughters is very good at it, but for me, it’s definitely my art background that brought me to these landscapes."
Emma Duncan has an extensive portfolio
Emma’s body of work includes more than just golf courses. Her aerial landscapes span forests, mountains, and various other terrains across Scotland. She also works in portraiture and more traditional and abstract landscapes, offering a diverse portfolio that captures the essence of her surroundings.
For those eager to view her work, Emma has just launched a new website that showcases her entire collection. "I’m really enthusiastic about sharing my work," she says. In particular interest to Women & Golf readers will be her series of paintings of Scottish Championship Links golf courses, including Muirfield, Royal Troon, St Andrews, Turnberry and Carnoustie.
Emma’s aerial paintings are available in high quality giclee prints, in three sizes A1, A2 and A3, all printed on high quality art paper, which wil no doubt make a ‘hole-in-one’ gift for art and golf enthusiasts alike.
You can view Emma's brand new website here www.emmaduncanart.com, visit her golf course prints page Golf Courses - Emma Duncan Art and follow on Instagram Emma Duncan.
