Hello and welcome to the Creative Flock!
A supportive and inspiring space for artists, illustrators, creatives and dreamers.
Welcome to The Creative Flock, it’s so lovely to have you here!
I’m Emma, an illustrator and artist living in rural Northamptonshire, UK, with my husband and our energetic 9-year-old.
My creative work is rooted in a deep love for the natural world, especially the small, everyday dramas playing out in micro habitats that often go unnoticed. I’m drawn to birds, woodland creatures, and those small, fleeting moments of wonder in nature that feel magical when you pause to notice them. I’m also inspired by folklore, old magic, and the power of storytelling to connect us more deeply with the world around us.
I’m a passionate sketchbook keeper and a collector of natural treasures, feathers, shells or curious stones, anything that sparks wonder. I’m a lifelong lover of children’s books - collecting them, reading them, and championing their power to inspire readers of all ages. I also work with a brilliant charity that brings authors into schools to share the joy of books and stories with children.1
When I’m not in the studio, you’ll usually find me out wandering the countryside with binoculars and sketchbook in hand, often stopping to identify birds, sketch, or photograph some tree bark.
Why I set up the Creative Flock
I created this membership as a way to build a nurturing, inspiring space for fellow artists and makers, a place to connect, create, and grow together. I wanted to bring more intention and clarity to my own creative practice, while encouraging others to do the same.
Substack felt like the perfect home, free from the noise of algorithms and ads, it offers the space for real, meaningful connection. What I’ve found here is a vibrant, creative community and the kind of thoughtful conversation I’d been craving. It’s a joy to share this space with members from around the world, all brought together by a shared love of art, nature, and gentle inspiration.
How the Creative Flock supports my practice
I truly believe that being part of a creative community is essential to artistic growth. Over the years, joining online spaces and supporting other artists, on platforms like Substack and Patreon, has had a transformational impact on my own work. It’s helped me create with more confidence, authenticity, and alignment with my true creative voice.
Through the Creative Flock, I want to give something back, to share my passion for drawing and illustration, and to offer inspiration and encouragement to others on their own creative paths.
When you become a paid member, you directly support the development of new illustration work and book projects, helping me to take my practice further. But whether you’re a paid or free subscriber, your presence matters. Simply commenting, liking posts, or joining in the community chat is a powerful form of encouragement, and I’m so grateful for it. Thank you. 😊
What to expect as a member
As a member of The Creative Flock, you’ll be part of a thriving, supportive community, with access to insights from my years of experience as an artist and illustrator.
Together, we follow a Creative Season, a theme introduced every three months that aligns with the rhythm of the natural world. Each season invites you to explore creative possibilities through art, illustration, storytelling, and a deepening connection to nature.
✨ To see what we’re currently exploring, take a look at the latest Creative Season, here.
You’ll be invited to join live sessions, including draw-alongs, workshops, and creative co-working, giving you space to invest time in your practice, grow your confidence, and develop your work in a nurturing environment.
To give you a taste of what to expect by being a member, I’ve made a selection of past live sessions and member posts free to read in this welcome post, feel free to explore!
Each Creative Season is supported by a rich array of thoughtfully curated resources to keep you inspired, motivated, and creatively connected throughout.
You’ll also have access to our open community chat thread, a friendly space where you can ask questions, share your work, and connect with fellow members on a more personal level.
This slower, more spacious approach allows for meaningful reflection and playful experimentation, without pressure, and without the need to constantly keep up.
Ways to join the Flock:
🪶 Free Tier: The Perch
A calm, inspiring view from the edge of the nest. Perfect for curious creatives who want to stay lightly connected.
Every month: Join in with a live, sketch-along on Substack. (Recording available)
Every Friday: Join in the community-only chat thread and share ‘good stuff from your week’.
End of season newsletter
Occasional bonus live sessions with artists and illustrators
Enjoy occasional, free-to-read posts.
10% discount in my print shop
10% discount at Deep Deep Light Watercolour and Cult Pens
You can upgrade or downgrade your subscription at any time.
If a paid membership isn’t the right fit but you’d still like to support my free offerings, you can buy me a coffee/pencil here, or simply like and share my posts. Every bit of support helps me reach more people.
🪺 Paid Tier: The Nest
From £5.42 - £9.50 a month. Annual and monthly options available.
A cozy, supportive space to build your creative practice. For artists ready to dig deeper, create, and grow.
Everything in The Perch, plus:
Full access to seasonal themes & creative resources
Invitations to live sessions, workshops and sketchbook share sessions with a replay available.
Member-exclusive posts, videos, and studio insights
A spot in the end of the season, Members Gallery
Receive regular support and encouragement from me and the community in the members-only chat space.
20% discount in my print shop
15% discount at Deep Deep Light Watercolour
You will have access to the full archive of content.
Subscriptions can be gifted too!
Subscription Costs:
Annual Membership: £65/year and over 40% cheaper than the monthly option. Ideal for those who want to invest in their creative journey, explore themes more deeply, and enjoy the full seasonal cycle.
Monthly Membership: £9.50/month. Suited to those who want more flexibility, join sessions that align with their interests and availability, or to access any of the sessions, workshops, videos and posts from the archive.
Founding Member: Between £65 - £185 a year. A way of showing a bit of extra support for me and my work 💚
I offer a number of free subscriptions each month to students and anyone who is in need of this space but can’t take on the financial commitment. Please drop me a line if this is something you need, all requests will be held in confidence - contact@emmacarpendale.co.uk
If you would like all the paid subscription benefits plus the opportunity to support my work further, there is also a Founding Member option to pledge between £65 - £185
Subscriptions can be gifted too! They make a unique birthday or Christmas gift for that creative person in your life who you struggle to buy for as they already have all the books and art materials!
A note to end on…
This is a space for those who like to take the scenic route in life.
This membership welcomes everyone, but if you enjoy a slow, gentle pace, you’ll feel right at home.
I won’t be dropping daily content, filling your inbox with messages or asking you to draw every week. There’ll be plenty of live session replays to catch up on if you need a bit of a challenge and I’ll happily share ways to extend your practice to members who wish to take it further.
The ‘Chat’ space is an optional way to connect with members of The Flock if you wish to.
There’s no pressure to have your camera on during the live sessions, talk or share what you’ve created. However, if you fancy chatting while you draw, then I’m always happy to oblige 🙂
In the spirit of ‘slow-pace’, The Creative Flock will take roost at certain times of the year, so I can spend quality time with my family, rest and devote efforts to creative projects. I would encourage you to use this opportunity as a reset too.
I’ll notify members of any interruptions to membership and payments will be paused during that time.
When you become a member of the Creative Flock you’ll be joining a supportive and inspiring space for artists, illustrators, creatives and dreamers. The Flock is open to anyone, at any stage in their creative journey and I'm thrilled to welcome you here. 😊
I work with a local branch of children’s book charity - The Federation of Children’s Book Groups, who work on a local and national level, with schools, families and individuals to bring children and books together and promote a love of reading https://fcbg.org.uk
Photo of me in this post was taken by friend and talented photographer Caroline Bates, she mostly does baby and family photography, but made an exception for me :) carolinejoanne.com
Hey Emma, I just wondered whether you could check something for me please? I just upgraded to a paid subscription but it doesn't seem to have worked on my app. Does it show me as a paid member on your end? 🤔 Xx