Growing up in a ski lodge in Killington, Vermont, Emily was inspired by snow-covered landscapes and nature, which sparked her passion for creating visual interpretations. She earned a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 2003, where she discovered a love for watercolor while working as a teaching assistant.

After teaching and selling her work to private clients, she spent 2008 in Italy studying art and culture. Returning in 2009, Emily transitioned from traditional media to digital painting, eventually signing a licensing contract with World Art Group, whose prints now reach an international audience.