Emily Rivers grew up just north of Boston where her passion for animals began. Drawing inspiration from her own backyard, Emily started off by sketching her family's beloved collection of pets: horses, ducks, dogs and cats. Later in life, her artwork took on a new perspective when she entered college, as her view of life naturally expanded by experiencing more varied surroundings and people.
Emily attended the University of Vermont where she obtained a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.S. in Animal Science. She worked at the local humane society and continued to ride horses while living and studying in Burlington, Vermont. This experience and the beautiful natural world around her acted as an inspiration for Emily's artwork during these years. Upon graduating, Emily traveled to South Africa, Mozambique, Australia, Italy and England, volunteering for local animal shelters, photographing and subsequently drawing the animals she encountered.
Emily's passion for non-profit work led her to obtain a Master's of Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management. Throughout her studies, Emily continued to paint. During this time, she experimented in painting other subjects such as the human figure, the reflection of light on glass, and photos of architecture taken from her travels. Although Emily regularly takes on works depicting objects and figures, she has realized that her true passion lies in capturing the unique personality of both wildlife and domestic animals.
Emily currently lives in Franklin, MA on a very small farm with her husband and daughter. Emily is a MA Licensed Riding Instructor and PATH Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. She is the owner of Wildflower Stables, an inclusive riding lesson program and boarding facility in Norfolk, MA.