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Make Your Mark Events
A unique creative business by artist Emma Read
Emily
January 04, 2025
I first found Emma through her work as an abstract painter. Her art seemed to pop up everywhere I visited, at different shows, cafes, and shops across Surrey.
While her abstract pieces are stunning, it’s her unique collaborative painting experiences that I really want to share with you. |
Emma runs Make Your Mark Events, which are award-winning live painting experiences for weddings, celebrations, and team events throughout the UK.
In short, Emma collaborates with her clients to design a unique piece of artwork, which guests at the event then paint under her guidance. The result is a truly one-of-a-kind masterpiece, filled with personal touches and memories from the day.
What makes this concept so special, and what consistently shows up in her reviews, is how personal and multi-layered the experience is. It all starts with the design process. Some couples come in with a clear vision for their painting, while others might have a general idea but can’t quite picture the finished piece. Emma explains,
“I tell them, ‘Don’t worry if you can’t see it, just tell me about yourselves. What do you love? What’s important to you?’”
From there, Emma gathers images and ideas, and together, they shape the vision for the painting.
After speaking with Emma, I reflected on what this process might mean for couples. Wedding planning often gets bogged down in logistics, decisions, and endless to-do lists. Collaborating with Emma would offer a refreshing break from all of that, a chance for couples to pause, reminisce, and create something meaningful together.
Emma adds that not every painting is deeply symbolic, sometimes it’s simply about creating a beautiful piece of art that will look great in their home, which has been co-created by their guests.
Then comes the most talked-about aspects of Make Your Mark Events, when guests get to pick up the paintbrush themselves!
Emma loves watching how people react to the opportunity to paint. Some find it intimidating at first. “A few will say, ‘That was the most stressful experience of my life,’” Emma laughs, but she adds that many guests tell her they haven’t picked up a paintbrush since school, or that they were once told they weren’t good at art. The beauty of this experience is in its simplicity.
Guests aren’t tasked with creating an entire painting, they’re given a small section, a few colours, and the freedom to make their mark. |
Emma would also begin the painting before the event, setting the stage for guests to add their contribution, and is always on hand to help. But she says it’s about letting people enjoy the process at their own pace. Most guests walk away surprised by how much they enjoyed it, and many feel inspired to pick up painting again.
Emma shared a memorable story from a recent wedding. After most of the guests had gone inside for the Wedding Breakfast, an older guest approached her, asking if he could add his mark to the painting.
“It was golden hour, and the light was hitting him perfectly as he stood there, completely absorbed in his painting. His son came out and watched him, clearly moved by the moment.”
It’s these small but powerful moments that makes Emma’s work so meaningful. It’s not just about creating a painting, it’s about the shared experiences between guests.
By the end of each event, the painting is complete. Emma ensures the couple sees the finished piece on the day. She’ll then take the painting back to her studio for any final touch-ups before delivering it as a cherished keepsake from their day.
As for her personal art practice, Emma continues to paint her stunning abstracts, but she’s currently focusing on painting for her own enjoyment rather than with the goal of selling. Last year, she attended a two-day workshop where she could simply play and experiment, reminding her of the joy that comes from the process itself, no pressure, no expectations. |
