Emma Tilia's 'Flow State' Paintings Blend Abstraction with Hyperrealist Figures

British artist Emma Tilia, raised near the Lake District in Cumbria, North West England, has developed a distinctive painting style that merges abstract landscapes with hyperrealistic figures. Her 'Flow State' series features striped, multi-colored brushstrokes that evoke natural contours and rhythm. Each painting includes at least one small hyperrealistic figure—such as a skier or surfer—to anchor the scene and emphasize humanity's smallness within nature. Tilia's technique involves loading multiple colors onto a single brush to create flowing bands. Her approach evolved from a desire to capture the emotional experience of a place rather than a literal depiction, influenced by her background in sports and a diagnosis of arthritis that ended her running career. The artist cites the dramatic scenery of her home region as a constant inspiration. Tilia shares her work on Instagram and TikTok, where she has posted videos of her process, including a custom painting titled 'A Quiet Frontier' (60 x 40 cm) and 'Grounded' (40 x 50 cm), which features earthy tones and a climber figure.