INTERVIEW
Embracing wild camping with Jemima Muir
Embracing wild camping with Jemima Muir
Multidisciplinary illustrator, Jemima Muir, joined Grand Matter as one of this year's Future Makers, our professional development programme for emerging artists. Her playful illustrations feature whimsical characters and more, exuding movement and energy through fluid hand drawn lines and bold palettes.
One of the threads running through much of Jemima's work is the natural world, and she will often take her sketchbook on travels outdoors, including her frequent wild camping adventures with friends. The relaxed, hand drawn quality of her work conjures a sense of liberation associated with the freedoms of being amongst the elements. Together with her particular passion for wild camping, it felt like the perfect opportunity to create a new series of illustrations centred on her experiences at one with nature, in a playful way.
We spoke to Jemima about what draws her to the pastime that inspired this series of illustrations, the positive impact being out of doors has on her state of mind, along with a few tales and tips from her past trips!
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I find being surrounded by nature and the wild is such a huge inspiration to my work and process. Camping gives me the space and time to see and think creatively.
First things first, why wild camping?
I love the freedom and vulnerability associated with wild camping, I went to Scotland and there was an incredible feeling of wildness and freedom camping in the wild of Aviemore and Glencoe. I think especially when you’re with friends it opens up a level of vulnerability with each other.
As a creative person, is there anything you get from going camping in the wild as an artist?
I find being surrounded by nature and the wild is such a huge inspiration to my work and process, camping gives me the space and time to see and think creativity. It allows me to take a step back to appreciate and explore my surroundings and the environment I’m in.
Reading fiction in the woods
Camping by day and night
Talk us through a wild camping experience
Often when we are camping it involves lots of walking and exploring our environment, we forage a lot and I am often reading a foraging book or examining different mushrooms. Whenever I go camping I try to bring a fiction book (almost always fantasy) to read in the woods, there isn’t a better feeling of escapism than reading with no one else around for miles!
We were at a campsite one time and we noticed a strange object in the sea. With further inspection through our binoculars, we noted it was a car that had poorly judged the tide times, there were so many warning signs! Looking back it probably ruined their whole holiday but we had quite a giggle at the time (apologies to whoever it was).
It is always fun attempting to creep around the camp at night with a lantern and not bump into anything or anyone. I have quite often heard a noise in the middle of the night, opened my tent to have a sneaky look outside because I have convinced myself a wild animal is near but it is usually one of my friends sneaking off to the toilet. I am very thankful I do not live in a place where serious wild animals such as bears are a problem, it would make wild camping quite a different experience altogether.
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I always jump or run straight in, it's the best way to do it. There aren’t many experiences which live up to the feeling of being submerged in wild water.
What about wild swimming?!
I love wild swimming! We always try to make sure we are within walking distance of the sea or water, a camping trip is not complete if I haven’t been in a body of water. I would recommend it, 100%. I always jump or run straight in, it's the best way to do it. There aren’t many experiences which live up to the feeling of being submerged in wild water. I will say be careful, know your surroundings, tide times and any dangerous currents – stay safe out there! I made the mistake of staying far too long in the sea when the water was particularly cold and spent the rest of a hot summer's day in multiple layers, a coat, scarf and hat, haha whoops.
Exploring the environment
How do you choose a good spot to camp, what are you looking for?
It is tricky to find a good camping spot, I would say do your research as there are plenty of great places out there. We look for what surrounds the area, how quiet it will be and if it is near a body of water. We go on a lot of walks so we always check to see if we can do a lot of walking near our camping spot.
If the ground isn’t right and you lose the daylight, it can be incredibly stressful. I would recommend researching exactly where to go before you arrive just in case the environment has changed or is inaccessible.
And finally, what are the top 5 camping essentials you’d recommend for a wild camping trip?
My top 5 essential items for wild camping are:
– A good quality lightweight tent, there is nothing worse than waking up to water in your tent.
– For me, a sketchbook and materials are essential – I forgot my trusty brush pen one time and we had to turn back for it.
– Waterproofs, thermals and a good quality coat to keep you warm at night.
– A reliable gas stove and matches!
– A Moka Pot or Cafetiere and coffee, even though we are wild camping there is always room in someone’s bag for coffee.
As you can tell, when I went wild camping I overpacked far too much, I do not recommend it – only pack what is essential, which of course is easier said than done.
About Jemima Muir
Jemima is a multidisciplinary illustrator based in Birmingham, UK, with a background in film. Her playful illustrations lend themselves to story telling, suiting a wide variety of outputs from editorial pieces to packaging and branding.
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