Emma Haggas

The Wiltshire-based painter on how she returned to art after a career break.

- Rachael Funnell

When did you realise you wanted to become an artist?

I began at the age of four. I did a drawing of a house that swung my first school interview at the age of seven. The headmistress took one look at my picture and said, “That’s the girl for us.” I stayed in school until I was 18, studying art all the way through, and I was inspired by very good teaching. After school, I did a degree in fine art, history of art and education at Homerton College, Cambridge University.

When did you become a full-time artist?

After graduating, I taught A-level for four years before travelling with my husband. I began painting full-time after we returned to England. I was fortunate because my husband could support me financially, which gave me time to get the ball rolling. I was about 27 when I had my first solo show, and it all kicked off from there.

I kept going until I was 30. I had just had a baby when my father died, and the combination of those things was too much to continue painting. It’s so hard to be creative when you’re unhappy, so I just focused on the baby and my family. I didn’t work on my art for a long time.

When did you return to painting?