About Me

Em is created by Maria Smedstad.

Originally born in Sweden, Maria has lived in England since 1994, and graduated from Falmouth College of Arts with a first class degree in illustration in 2001. She then moved to London to work as a freelance illustrator.

Em was created as an autobiographical side project, depicting life as a young ( semi ) professional in a shared London house. It was picked up by thelondonpaper in October 2006. Since then the often acerbic portrayal of Em’s life has received a hugely positive response and has struck a chord not only with Londoners, but with people worldwide who sympathise with her and her friends’ daily struggle to keep their wine intake down, fight broadband service providers and find that special someone to keep them warm at night.