Emma Howell
20 September, 2025
Every so often, I get the privilege of collaborating with brands, artists, designers, and makers whose vision resonates with my own. For my Soul exhibition at Sixteen Gallery last summer, I had the honour of working with British custom guitar makers, Munson Guitars, on a project that brought two unique instruments to life: Hope and Eden. Each guitar was hand-built by leading luthier Carl Munson, hand-painted by me, and then returned to the Munson HQ to be set up to their world-class standard. These instruments weren’t just made to be played, but to be lived with and appreciated as artworks in their own right.. a true blend of craftsmanship, abstract expression, sound, and storytelling
Munson Guitars are known for their bespoke, handcrafted guitars, each built with meticulous attention to detail and deep respect for both woodcraft and music. Our collaboration grew from a shared belief in legacy – with my roots in music through my dad, and Carl’s in craftsmanship through his father’s love of woodwork. This project became a way of weaving family heritage into instruments that carry both story and sound.
The Guitars
Eden: A Figment Of Your Meditation (available)
The Soul collection includes a series of 6 meditation paintings (now all sold) and Eden the guitar follows the same sentiment, theme and style. Each painted shape informs the next, over time building a floral composition of refreshing paradise and bold expression. Building up these vivid compositions is a meditative process, taking hours of careful hand-eye coordination and slow breathing. All pieces in this style give a nod to triumph over adversity. To enquire about purchasing this piece, please send me a message.
Hope: A Two Soul Harmony (sold)
Hope is a collision of two creative individuals, totally obsessed with their craft. In regards to the art, the application involved was totally raw, honest and spontaneous marks from life. The guitar body, along with its sibling canvas, “A Bad Day for the Ego is a Great Day for the Soul” (sold), sat together in my living room for weeks.. everyday (or so), I’d grab a stick of charcoal, a dollop of paint or an old pencil and released feeling, tension or zest. The two pieces are quite literally translations of humanness onto a surface. They expose hardship and chaos, but at the same time harmony, balance and comfort.
The Exhibition
At the show, the guitars were proudly displayed on Munson HANGARS alongside my other works on canvas and paper. The instruments became a kind of bridge between disciplines.. abstract expressionism meets the tactile, sonic world of music. Gallery visitors were able to experience them not only as visual objects, but as vessels of sound, meditation and collaboration. We were even lucky enough to have the photographer from the Telegraph in the space to photograph myself and the guitars. They brought in many people – that’s for sure.
The Tribute
For me, this project was more than just a crossover of mediums. Music has always been a part of my life. My Dad was a bass player in many local bands – he lived and breathed music, running his own shop for three decades before his sudden passing in 2016. Since then, every painting and exhibition I’ve created has been dedicated to him, carrying his spirit forward.
This collaboration with Munson Guitars felt like a natural extension of that tribute.. a meeting point between two crafts, two legacies and two ways of telling stories. Eden and Hope are more than objects/instruments – they’re living artworks, embodying real memories, heritage, and nostalgia. They’re completely unique pieces – hand-built instruments fused with original artwork – bringing together the worlds of music and painting in one form.
The Gratitude
The guitars now exist as rare, one-of-a-kind artworks – a testament to what happens when two practices collide. I’m incredibly grateful to Munson Guitars for trusting me with their craftsmanship and for letting my work spill into a new medium.
This collaboration has reminded me that art, in all its forms, thrives on openness – on stepping into new terrain and letting creativity find unexpected places to live. If you want your own hand-painted, bespoke guitar, please get in touch.